letuffeau.com
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~ A milestone release for Le Tuffeau and Cooper Davis-Draper. Full circle from ‘24 to ‘25.” ~
Oria-Riff
McLaren Vale
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“Well, this is it. A milestone release.
Well, probably for the winemaker. In fact, certainly for the winemaker.
A milestone, too though, for us at Le Tuffeau. These wines were fundamental to our first year … despite being out of stock since last August!
We have come full circle a year later. New releases, new vibes. Time to get serious.
Last year I praised Cooper Davis-Draper,
“Unusually special wines require unusual treatment … our expectations were blown away. I immediately mouthed 'Rayas' at Will on sampling the Dry Red (Grenache); its delicate, almost frail colour completely hiding a serious and structured wine with a hugely impressive wine of great precision and depth. The superlatives flow. Cooper Davis-Draper is already a star in the wine firmament.”
— David
Since then it has been most pleasing to see plaudits for Cooper Davis-Draper emerge globally … including in the most major of international wine publications; I single out the oldest and most famous,
“There are also some wines here from a new kid on the block—Oria Riff in McLaren Vale. They are wines of extraordinary detail and enjoyment, and I look forward to seeing more of those in the future.”
— Erin Larkin, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
I feel that I was ahead of the curve here.
With a new vintage of these wines now at last in stock, this is my call to action: get ahead of the curve. Stock up on Oria-Riff. At $39.00/bottle it may feel hard to take these wines seriously, but you should. It is with these smaller and younger producers, and I thinking of that ‘firmament’ above here,
Eleana Anderson - Mayford
Josh Cooper - eponymous
Bridget Mac - Werkstatt
Callum Powell - Agricola
Alessandro Stefani - eponymous
Pat Underwood - eponymous
that one sees such absurd value for money. Indeed, I see the Australian Wine Scene of our Parents mirrored through the producers, and others, just listed. Right now, at auction, buyers pay ludicrous premiums for older bottles of Wynns, Woodley’s, Redman, Balgownie … Bindi, Giaconda, etc. This is our time.
Again, with producers such as Oria-Riff: get ahead of the curve, now we have come full circle.”
— David
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~ please note : discounts are automatically applied at the digital check-out! ~
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I
Oria-Riff 2025 McLaren Vale Semillon 'Old Vine Dry White'
(Shelf Price: $49.00)
Offer: $39.00 (20%-off)
“The 2025 Oria Riff Semillon comes from fruit grown in Fiona Wood's McLaren Vale vineyard. The vines here, planted around the same time as the Grenache in the same block, are now fully mature at approximately 60 years-old. At this age they have tap roots than run deep into the sand beneath them, enabling safe weathering of drought conditions such as those that ran through the '25 vintage.
A pale straw yellow to the eye, this wine is immensely reticent in the glass as if being examined at a distance. Placid and reserved, even vigorous coaxing does not unwind the core than one can distantly sense here of yellow peach and ocean-breeze nuances. Around this there is a more present veil of aromatics: citron, coriander seed, and candlewax. At the forefront, most present: nutty, savoury elements and florals along the lines of Brazil nut and pistachio, preserved lemon rind, honeysuckle and jasmine.
The palate is fuller than expected, with depth and weight balanced over a fine underline of acidity. Everything sits low in the mouth, with the phenolics tugging only the lower portions of the cheeks, as the wine recedes to a singularity of contained richness at the back end. Time will, of course, be kind to this wine. Meyer lemon, nuts, chicken salt, lemongrass; there is more mingling to the flavours here than the strict regularity of aromatics on the nose. Right at the end there is a faint fanning out: the coriander seed and Moroccan preserved lemon rind nuances finally emerge. This is certainly not our parents' Semillon. Distinct and different, more importantly fine.”
— David
Order here
(Link)
II
Oria-Riff 2025 McLaren Vale Grenache 'Old Vine Dry Red'
(Shelf Price: $49.00)
Offer: $39.00 (20%-off)
“The 2025 Oria Riff McLaren Vale Grenache is as last year surtitled 'Dry Red', this feels very apposite. A pale ruby with underpinnings of garnet in the glass, this is more immediately aromatically expressive than its 'Dry White' counterpart. Rose-bush sous bois, iron filings, mineral salts, garrigue (thyme and oregano), and orange peel all drift lazily around the glass is if on a hot day. The aromatic core conversely feels very fresh and driven, with fresh blood orange flesh, strawberry whites, and light red cherry all springing into action with every swirl of the glass. Lurking in the background is a hint of amaro and almond paste. Fine? Fine!
The palate is tightly coiled, cooling and balsam; driven by a line of pinpoint acidity in the second half, with emergent fine powdery tannins that never verge into chalky despite being allied to a sandy/pulverised minerality. Rhubarb, blood orange, fresh red cherries and citrus piths; indeed there is something of the Campari (Amaro-esque) here with an immensely pleasing bitter finish. Almond paste and a naughty cherry note appear towards the second half. Delicious, refreshing; very fine (indeed!) and perhaps something of the indecent here ... latent for now but age will reveal all. As it always does.”
— David
Order here
(Link)
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Tue. 11.00 am–6.00 pm
Wed.–Sat. 11.00 am–11.00 pm
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If you would like any of the above, would like to come by for a private appointment, or just have some questions — please let us know.