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Yarra Valley Legends: Timo Mayer & Lambert Wines + Georgian Wine Tasting this Saturday 3-6PM

by Annandale Cellars

Timo Mayer
2023 Pinot Noir Release

Timo Mayer is one of my favourite people to taste with.  It's a rare sight to catch him without a beaming smile, and he’s always full of energy when he’s on the road showing his latest release. Describing himself simply as a "farmer," he firmly believes that the true essence of his wines originates in the vineyard. Embracing minimal intervention in winemaking, Timo's approach may seem unconventional to some but it’s deeply rooted in tradition.

Although his family boasts a 400-year legacy in German winemaking within the Württemburg region, Timo's adventurous spirit led him to traverse the globe. Fate intervened when he met his Australian wife in America, altering his course from the expected. His wanderlust eventually brought him to study winemaking in Wagga Wagga like so many others. Timo's winemaking journey was destined to be anything but ordinary. 

His philosophy is to "bring back the funk." All of his wines remain unfined and unfiltered, preserving the full flavor and texture of the final products. His signature combo of carbonic maceration and whole-bunch fermentation imparts structure and a herbaceous quality adding depth and savoury nuance to the wines, while the carbonic maceration adds layers of delicious juicy fruit character keeping the wines fresh and balanced. 

Renowned for his duo of Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, cultivated on the steep slopes of the "Bloody Hill," labelled “Doktor” and “Close Planted," continuing the Mayer family winemaking tradition. We asked him about the name and well… It’s a big bloody hill! 

His wines sell out quickly every year so for those who know and adore them, this me letting you know we have them and if you’ve not tried them you should change that ASAP.  - Pete L

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Lambert Wines

2022 Nebbiolo Release

Luke Lambert is the enigmatic figure behind Lambert Wines. Rather than seeking the spotlight, Luke is quite a shy, softly spoken guy, who prefers to let his wines do the talking.

And boy, do they talk.

For many years we've been huge supporters of Luke's wines. The three wines he produces under his Lambert Wines label have garnered a cult following, especially the Nebbiolo which has become one of the most sought after Nebbioli produced in Australia. His Crudo range is always the first to be released from each vintage and offers an exciting snapshot of what is to follow from the Lambert wines, and you can still get your hands on the 2022 Chardonnay and Syrah released last year in-store and online. For many of you these wines are not new and you know what we mean when we say these are some of the most exciting wines released each year. For those of you that haven't tried them, we can't recommend these wines enough.

But this week, Luke's 2022 Nebbiolo has landed.

They sell out every year so don't miss out. - Pete L

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Georgian Wines

Pheasant's Tears & Igavi Wines

Saturday 9th of March

3-6PM

Georgian wine and its history trace back thousands of years, making Georgia one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. The country's unique winemaking techniques, defined by it's ancient qvevri method, involving the use of large clay vessels buried underground for fermentation and aging combined with extended macerations on skins. These techniques impart distinct flavours and characteristics to Georgian wines, setting them apart from the more traditional styles of wine you may be used to drinking. If you are a fan of Amber or Orange wines then there's a lot here for you to enjoy and you will gain an understanding of where this style of wine started.

The importance of wine in Georgian culture goes beyond mere consumption; it plays a central role in social and cultural rituals. Many Georgian families maintain their own vineyards and produce small batches of wine for personal use, preserving family recipes and winemaking traditions passed down through generations.

Georgian wine's resurgence in popularity in recent years has brought attention to the country's diverse grape varieties and distinct terroir. Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, and Mtsvane are among many of the unique grape varieties grown in Georgia, each contributing to the wide variety of flavours found in Georgian wines. As traditional winemaking methods continues to return to popularity, Georgian wine stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of ancient winemaking traditions and the unique character they bring to the world of wine.

We will barely be scratching the surface on Saturday with the two producers we are featuring but we think the wines of Pheasant's Tears and Igavi Wines are a great entry to point into the diversity the modern Georgian wine scenes offers.

On our shores Pheasant's Tears is probably the most notable Georgian winery. Founded by American artist, John Wurdeman and winemaker Gela Patalishvili who many would say are responsible to the current spotlight on Georgian wines, particularly of the Amber variety. Igavi wines is a slightly different story, started by Aidan Raftery who was born in New Zealand, became a successful sommelier in Melbourne who then moved to Georgia to start making wine from a select set of sites in the west of the country. Inspired by the diversity and history of the region Aidan is making some of the most exciting wines coming out of George today so this will be a great tasting. Make sure to ask lots of questions on the day too! - Pete L

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Mixed 6er Packs

If you missed our Tuesday email this week you might not know that we are doing packs! Yes, they are back. Some of you may remember the packs from the old website (Veno) and know how this works and why they are a great option. For those that don't here's the idea and why we think they are one of the best ways to shop with us.

We are constantly receiving deliveries of new wines, new vintages or top ups of our favourites and these packs are the best way for us to share those with you, especially if you can't make it to the store. One of the best parts of our job is tasting and selecting new wines that make it on to the shelves but the even better part is getting to share those bottles with you and by grabbing a pack you get to join the journey.

The idea is simple, first you pick what you would like to spend from the four available options:

Mixed 6er Pack #1 - $199

Mixed 6er Pack #2 - $249

Mixed 6er Pack #3 - $299

Mixed 6er Pack #4 - $349

Once that's covered you can either leave the selection entirely up to us or in the order comments specify whatever you'd like to receive from styles, to regions, varieties or even the occasion for example "I want wines perfect for a party" and we will curate a selection of wines that we think will tick all the boxes.

It is a great way for you to try new and exciting styles of wine but also a great deal. You are placing your trust in us to select exciting wines for you and as a reward we get to be a bit more generous with the discount so the packs are also great value. We are looking forward to being able to share our selections with you. - Pete L

 

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