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Mount Horrocks
Clare Valley
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“Purity.
Not really a concept that I would like to give too much time to in consideration, in all honesty. Too much of a dirty history.
There are some wines, however, that have a disarming ‘purity’ of expression. What I mean here is, quite precisely, that the wine presents a transparent communication of its place, or time, winemaking, varietal. The ‘disarming’ element is that this quality catches one unawares, the pleasant surprise being part of the great enjoyment of the wine. Indeed, wine generally.
The Mount Horrocks releases, from Stephanie O’Toole, possess such a sense of purity. Indeed, such is the presence of ‘pure’ varietal expression that ‘one could take dictation’ from this wine.
I could end here stating: what more could one want?
Well, one could want a lot more! Good thing these are immensely pleasing and vivacious wines, possessed not only of charms but also structure and in-check generosity. I should let their notes speak for the wines.
In a word: Claret. Fine Claret. Even the white.
Ignore at your own peril … or perhaps mine as I enjoy drinking these far too much.”
— David
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~ please note : discounts are automatically applied at the digital check-out! ~
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I
Mount Horrocks 2023 Clare Valley Semillon
(Shelf Price: $48.00)
Offer: $40.00 (15%-off)
“Perhaps the perfect white to open and enjoy on a freezing Winter’s afternoon. I cannot help but feel the savoury, bran-like qualities here really are archetypical of the variety when outside the Hunter Valley (in Australia). Certainly a wine more of breadth and depth, with greater textural heft, than the more Northern exemplars. I wonder: why do we not drink more Semillon? The varietal always offers great acidity and tension, and is so responsive to terroir.
The 2023 Clare Valley Semillon from Mount Horrocks offers up immediate and appealing varietal notes of capers, wet hay, citrus leaf and lemon pith, and a slight edge of sea-spray. There is a pleasing richness the balances the profile: melted bees-wax, Jasmine and Frangipane, and pecan. The palate is fresh, steely in feel as opposed to chalkily austere. The finish is beautifully rounded with buttered-toast nuances floating over lees and waxy richness that fans out as the wine closes. Capers, then lemon curd and cracked Brazil Nut; toasted Pecan, a hint of brine and pith. Roasted bran and almonds on the close. Utterly delicious. Fine.”
— David
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II
Mount Horrocks 2023 Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
(Shelf Price: $66.00)
Offer: $55.00 (15%-off)
“I am frequently asked: what is Claret? Well, I usually just say: wine in a Claret bottle. Specifically what wine? Well, a medium-bodied dry red.
The Mount Horrocks 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon could be used to define ‘Claret’ in the OED. Here is a charming medium-bodied wine blessed with an abundance of both structure and pleasing fruit, with wonderful complexities to ensure the mind is kept as engaged as the senses.
Brimming on first pour with cassis, crushed blackberry, and hints of cherry liqueur, this gorgeous ‘claret’ unfolds layers of marjoram and oregano, steeped black tea, and iron filings, before one finds the ‘centre’ again of black and red fruit. Trimming all of this on the sensorial edges are notes of dried eucalypt, warm red-brown soil, Dutch Cocoa, and baking spices. On the lighter end of medium-bodied, the wine is crisply structured with fine and layered mineral tannins. A long line of acidity carrying carries through the fruit and savoury elements before slightly, and pleasingly, bitter phenolics akin to plum and cherry skin kick in to shape the conclusion to a fine point. Black and red cherries, dry brown spice, balsam notes, and herbal touches akin to marjoram and oregano abound. Crushed slate minerality on the close. Very fine claret.”
— David
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“The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is so concentrated on the nose, astoundingly so, with aromas of cassis and violets, raspberry, menthol, layers of freshly turned earth, bramble and sweet tobacco. In the mouth, the wine is characteristically in turn leafy and ferruginous, a l a Clare Valley Cabernet. It is leafy, a little minty, plastered wall to wall with dark purple fruit and long through the fine tannin finish. This is chalky and very good. Pleasingly, it is the kind of Cabernet one can sit and smell for ages.”
94+pts — Erin Larkin, Robert' Parker’s Wine Advocate
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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
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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.