Translation missing: en.Polperro + Caruso & Minini + Koerner: Polperro + Caruso & Minini + Koerner
Polperro
Polperro was established in 2009 by Sam Coverdale with the aim of producing terroir-driven single-vineyard and estate-grown wines. About 15 years later and Polperro are considered one of the best producers in Mornington Peninsula and have managed to capture the essence of the maritime climate of the peninsula.
Sam speaks of the individual vineyard sites like a parent speaks of their children: delighting in their unique traits, playing to their strengths, realising their potential, celebrating their triumphs. This superior tacit understanding of site, combined with precision in the winery create wines of character and with a true sense of place. Their holistic approach combines biodynamic principles, composting, animal integration, cover crops, native species, and perennial planting. These methods work together to build a thriving soil ecosystem—one that brings balance, fertility, and resilience. At Polperro, they believe that good produce starts below the surface which is why they practice no-till farming - a practice where they avoid using tractors to plow or till the soil to protect the natural structure of the soil. The winemaking is of course delicate to match the holistic approach to farming - they know good wine is made in the vineyard so any winemaking practices are done with the intention of respecting the natural properties of the grapes.
Polperro was one of the standouts out the Wine Fair over the weekend and we've still got some bottles left for those that forgot to order or didn't have the chance to make it. The '23 'Fume Blanc' is an interesting take on Sauvignon Blanc which is aged in barrel for 9 months and bottled with minimal sulphur and the '24 'Pinot Gris' is one of the best Aussie Gris' on the market with a nice full body and lusciously ripe stone fruits. The '23 'Chardonnay' is light and fresh and more Chablisienne in style whereas the '22 'Mill Hill Chardonnay' is an excellent single-vineyard expression with more concentration and detail. The '23 'Pinot Noir' is a classic light and delicate Mornington Pinot and the '22 'Little Laney Pinot Noir' is a single-vineyard that produces a more robust and complex wine. These are some exceptional wines from one of the best producers in the Mornington Peninsula, pick some of these up today!
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Caruso & Minini
Winemakers Stefano, Francesco, and Roberto Caruso joined forces with Mario and Francesco Minini, who owned a marketing company in Northern Italy, to establish Caruso & Minini Estate, a state-of-the-art winery in Marsala, Western Sicily. This partnership merges tradition with a vision for the future and have already managed to produce incredible wines at great prices from organically grown estate-owned vineyards.
The winery sprawls across 120 hectares of vineyards nestled in the picturesque Trapani hills, caressed by the gentle Mediterranean breeze. With altitudes reaching up to 450 meters above sea level, this expansive terrain is rich in clay, silica, and limestone with winds that sweep through it, from the mistral to the sirocco. Broadly speaking, the climate is temperate, boasting long summers and mild winters characterized by low rainfall. They employ prudent cultivation practices including organic fertilization, continuous pest management, sowing of herbaceous plants, and the use of legumes to enhance soil fertility by increasing nitrogen levels. Their cellar is equipped with 225-liter barriques, 550-liter tonneaux, and 30 and 50-hectoliter barrels for ageing the reds, masterfully crafted by esteemed cooperages from the Trapani area.
The wines from Caruso & Minini seemed to be a favourite at the Wine Fair and we only have 3 different wines left. The '23 'Bibbo Zibibbo' is an example of Zibibbo (Muscat) done well with a pronounced nose of ripe stone fruits and flowers but fermented dry. The '22 'Frappello Rosso' is so named because it is a blend of Frappato and Nerello Mascalese and is probably one of the best value Italian reds we have with delicate red fruits and spice. Finally, the '18 'Cutaja Nero d'Avola Riserva' is an excellent example of Nero d'Avola with age and would appeal to lovers of aged Bordeaux. This is a producer that is new to the store and has been welcomed with open arms by customers, pick up some of these last bottles for yourself to see what the fuss is about!
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Koerner
Koerner is family run business led by Damon and Maddy Koerner, dedicated to crafting wines that showcase the unique characteristics of the Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills. Damon is the viticulturist and winemaker, focusing on fruit quality, transparent practices, and producing wines that truly reflect their origins. Koerner produce wines from a wide range of grape varieties - from Riesling and Vermentino to Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Koerner winemaking philosophy is simple – to make wines that reflect their place in the world, wines that are made in the vineyard. In the Clare Valley, all fruit is grown within a 750m radius so Damon has a good understanding of all the nuances in sites that he works with here. The picking date is what Damon considers to be most crucial for achieving his goals as this will determine the levels of acid and phenolic ripeness which are so important for creating wines of balance and intrigue. The Koerner wines are fresh due to earlier picking with just a touch of sulphur at bottling but still have great texture and complexity. Damon is heavily influenced by the wines of Corsica which can be seen in the grape varieties used but also in the style of great texture, concentration but fresh elegance.
We had a big range of the Koerner wines pouring at the Wine Fair which everyone seemed to love. I had only tasted bits an pieces before but having the chance to taste a full line up eye-opening. It's safe to say that these wines punch well above their weight. Of their whites (including rose and orange) we have the '24 'Watervale Riesling', '23 'Pigato Vermentino', '23 'Tiver Rose' and '23 'Rolle Vermentino'. All of these have great acid and texture while still having a good deal of complexity. From the reds, we have the '23 'La Korse Red', '22 'The Clare Red Blend', '23 'Gamay', '22 Nielluccio Sangiovese' and the '21 'Classico Red'. All of these wines, even those made from grapes that traditionally make bigger wines, all manage to maintain a certain freshness and purity without sacrificing complexity or varietal integrity. Koerner continues to make some of the best wines in Australia from alternative varieties - this is your chance to try something new!