Valentine wines
Dom Valentine has made wine with some of Germany’s leading producers. Now he explores lessons learnt when crafting wines from Victoria’s vineyards.
Read about Valentine Wine’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay below.
Valentine Wines website.
Valentine 2020 Pinot Noir
Vineyard:
C Block MV6
Vines planted 2000, own rooted
Fruit picked on 20 March, 2019
Receival analysis – Baume: 12.0 pH: 3.54 TA: 6.2
Winemaking:
Winemaker: Dominic Valentine
Total crush: 3.2 T.
Fruit is hand harvested and destemmed with an average of 20% whole bunches included in the ferments. Natural yeast is encouraged to start the ferment before pump-overs and plunging commence once per day.
The skins are then pressed and settled overnight before being filled to French oak barrels of various sizes.
Maturation for nine months prior to blending in December 2018 and bottling without fining or
Yeast – Wild
MLF % – 100%
Maturation: French oak puncheons and hogsheads. 20% new, 20% 1-year old. 9 months.
No fining, no filtering.
Vegan friendly: Yes.
12.3% alc/vol; Approx. 7.3 standard drinks
Preservatives – S02
Tasting notes:
Medium dark red with purple. Perfumed, alluring, spice and violets. Flavours of dark fruits and graphite, graceful, textural and stony with fine tannin. A modern Australian cool-climate style of Pinot Noir that has immediate appeal.
This wine will continue to develop beautifully over the next 10+ years if stored in a cool dark place.
Great with lamb ragu and parmesan polenta, or Peking duck.
Valentine 2021 Chardonnay
Vineyard:
C & E Block Chardonnay
Bernard selection 76 own rooted – Vines planted in 2007 & 2014
Sourced solely from Lone Star Creek Vineyard, Upper Yarra Valley. C Block is yellow duplex soil. E Block is red volcanic clay
Fruit picked on 5th and 6th March, 2019
Receival analysis – Baume: 12.8 pH: 3.2 TA: 7.0
Winemaking:
Winemaker: Dominic Valentine
Total crush: 3.5T.
Whole-bunch-pressed & cooled at receival.
Barrel fermented in mixture of puncheons and hogsheads. No MLF promoted.
Yeast – Wild
MLF % – Nil
Maturation: French oak puncheons and hogsheads: 20% new, 20% 1-year old, 60% older oak. The wine remained on solid lees until blending in December 2018. Tank-settled for one month and bottled in January 2019.
Cold stabilised. No fining, coarse filtration.
Vegan friendly: Yes.
13.3% alc/vol; Approx. 7.9 standard drinks
Preservatives – S02
Tasting notes:
Pale with a green edge. Gentle restrained nose with lifted florals, citrus and brioche. Fine, tightly woven texture with some savoury, nutty flavours.
A modern Australian cool-climate style of Chardonnay that has immediate appeal and will continue to build muscularity in bottle for 10+ years.
Goes well with pan-fried fish and seasonal greens. Roast chicken.