/
letuffeau.com
(Link)
“What is apparent, talking with George, is that he really enjoys drinking his own wine. What I mean by this is, as a winemaker, making a wine to his tastes is his sole criterion. Really, to make wine any other way strikes me as disingenuous.” — David
Reminder - Upcoming Events
Bookings and Queries by reply email or 9419 3867
—
THIS Saturday, 01/08
2.00-4.00pm
FREE TASTING
&
Meet the Winemaker
-
Joshua Cooper 2025 Vintage Launch
with
Josh Cooper, the man himself!
—
J. B. & S. A. K. Cooper Wines
—
GUM Wines
…
George McCullough
the Viceroy of Viognier
~ David & George stare listlessly, glasses in hand, as Wilco’s Sunloathe (The Whole Love) plays in the background. ~
George: “Damn. That is delicious.”
David: “The thinking person’s Viognier.”
—
I
The Thinking Person’s Viognier
GUM Wine 2025 Heathcote Viognier ‘A Field’
(Shelf Price: $48.00)
Offer: $44.00
6-pack : $240.00 ($40/bottle)
whole clusters, pressed very hard; stainless steel & Stockinger puncheons for 12 months
“Pale straw in colour, the 2025 Heathcote Viognier from GUM Wine possesses an arresting bouquet of frangipane, mandarin peel, yellow peach and similarly coloured apple, and white tea. Though there is much upfront appeal here, there are complexifying notes of Kampot pepper, bitter melon, sandalwood, and dried white petals that add intrigue as well as charm. The palate is luscious, possessing a touch of viscosity without being unctuous; nicely balanced by a fine cut of acidity that segues nicely into lightly chalky phenolics before the fulsome and spice-inflected finish. Fresh Bergamot and Citron, tart yellow peach, cardamom and a mix of peppercorns, and beeswax. Nicely fresh on the close. Intriguing. Fine!”
— David
&
“I am deeply fond of the gastronomic white wines of the Rhone valley and encourage you to enjoy this wine with food.”
— George
Order here
(Link)
…
~ David is furiously scribbling notes while George meanders between his time in the Rhone Valley, working in and sampling the many usually forgotten white wines of the region (mainly various Condrieu and Ch. Rayas Blanc), and the winemaking techniques, learnt in that area of France, he applies today ~
George: “Carraway, spices … I want to eat Indian food and drink that wine.”
~ George is most emphatic here ~
David: “ … ”
II
The Other Grenache
Gum Wine 2025 Heathcote Grenache Blanc
(Shelf Price: $48.00)
Offer: $44.00
6-pack : $240.00 ($40/bottle)
Grenache Blanc from the Willoughby Bridge Vineyard, 30 year-old vines grafted over older plantings of Viognier (!); soft whole-bunch press then 14m in Stockinger puncheons (2/3) and stainless steel tank (1/3)
“The 2025 Grenache Blanc from George McCullough’s Gum Wine races out of the glass with enlivening aromas of white peach, yellow citrus, and baking apple prefacing savoury characters (that jostle for attention): caraway and malty rye, almond, fleur de sal, and vanilla wafers. The palace is silken in texture, compact and punchy; the finish, buoyed by fresh acidity, soft and rounded and nicely saline. Indeed, it is this salinity more than phenolic that renders the wine moreish. Those wafer biscuits are back, along with stem ginger, Riga Rye, curry leaf, and pomelo. Delicious.”
— David
&
“A savoury, gastronomic expression of Grenache Blanc, made with the table firmly in mind.”
— George
Order here
(Link)
…
Please join us for a drink soon. Reservations preferred.
Bookings and after-6.00pm access: (03) 9419 3867
Tue. 11.00 am–6.00 pm
Wed.–Sat. 11.00 am–11.00 pm
—
***
watch this space
for
The Antipodean Wine Digest
with
Mahmood Fazal
&
David Murray
launching early August
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.