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letuffeau.com
(Link)
“Bridget Mac is singularly remaking the wine world. Not in her image but holding it to standards the rest of us do not even realise.”
— David
&
“Ultimately, this is a thirst-quenching and piquant Riesling that speaks eloquently about the unique Mt Gambier volcanic limestone terroir, and is testament to the supreme skill of winemaker Bridget Mac in realising an 'Australian Pradikat' wine of high quality.”
— David
UPCOMING EVENTS
T O D A Y
05/09
2.00-4.00pm
-
A Very Special Tasting
with
Bridget Mac
Werkstatt
-
Launching the Limited Print Run
of
N O I R
on labour, love and loss.
— — —
Werkstatt
Mount Gambier Releases
“I would hate for notions of the routine to creep into these missives. Consequently, I realised on drafting the below that there was something of the regular in my praise for Bridget Mac’s Werkstatt wines.
‘Oh no!’ you Readers exclaim, ‘Not another very good set of wines from Bridget, with David’s usual high praise.’
I promptly revised my notes.
I should stress here, dear Readers, that the below three wines from Bridget are more than routine fine, very fine, good, or even very good. Bridget and I were discussing her winemaking decisions for the 2026 wines and my impression overall was that they were responsive to the fruit and the changing state of the nascent wine; that she was making wine on powerful instinct rather than imposition. This is, I qualify, not to write that previous wines were not informed by her mounting experience but rather than in 2026 there is a confluence of vision, instinct, and conditions for quality fruit that have resulted in wines that possess that elusive spark.
Certainly, this is the finest set of Werkstatt wines yet released. My effusive notes below.”
— David
“David, your notes are always effusive!”
— Nick, again
~ please note : discounts are automatically applied at checkout ~
I
the sparkling Riesling
Werkstatt 2024 Riesling ‘Sekt’ (24m sur lie)
(Shelf Price: $72.00)
Offer: $60.00
6-pack : $342.00 ($57/bottle)
“The second disgorgement of Bridget Mac’s Werkstatt Sparkling Riesling ‘Sekt from the 2024 vintage is marvellously fresh, not so much bursting from the glass but more cutting across the nose like a stuff marine breeze carrying smoky nuances of struck rock and crushed chalk followed by capers, beach sand, crumbled stone, and shucked oyster. Behind this billows aromas of toasted bran, bush honey, and warm rocks in which bask the more fruity touches of mandarin blossom, candied lime peel, salt-preserved lemons, bitter apricot, stone fruit pit, and ground almond. If the earlier disgorgement had more high-wire tension this wine has more filigree and nuance, even within that ocean storm context! The palate is elegant and satiny on entry before a huge swell of chalky phenolic rises on a tidal surge of acidity; make no attempt to resist as it sweeps the second half of the palate out to sea with all the salinity this presupposes, leaving the the impression of shoreline salt-crusted watermarks on a
limestone shelf. From this emerges tart pear and white stone fruit, then native lime and pomelo which over some is succulence to balance the austerity otherwise present; hints of brown spices, dried wax, and roast oats add complexity.
Incredible. The shape of the wine is fearsome and awe-inspiring and yet I cannot help but return for another glass. One of Australia’s great aperitifs? No. One of Australia’s great sparkling wines.”
— David
Order here
(Link)
the feinherb Riesling
II
“Fuck. That’s like really … really good Old World Riesling.”
— Campbell
&
“Woah! Jesus that has energy.”
— Anonymous (A Wine Industry Professional)
Werkstatt 2026 Mount Gambier Riesling
(Shelf Price: $49.00)
Offer: $44.00
6-pack : $222.00 ($37/bottle)
“The Werkstatt 2026 Mount Gambier Riesling is an appealing straw yellow, with a hint more gold than previous vintages. The faintest hint of mineral reduction quickly clears to reveal a wonderfully marine nose of sea spray flecked limestone, with pink grapefruit and pomelo preceding mandarin oil and flesh of same with hints of Pineapple Sage in the background lending intrigue. There is a marvellous sense of olfactory piquancy. The palate is enormously zesty yet still silken on attack, with fantastic acid profile that feels very true to the citrus flavours that abound …
Fuck. This is a wine that compels you, against your will, to exclaim: fuck!. Can I write that in a tasting note?
The palate possess an unerring sense of symmetry to its structure, unfolding a chiastic arc:
spice - wax & bran - fruit - piquant fruit - bitterness - herbs/spices - wax
and consequently, first, we have bay, green cardamom, Kampot peppercorn; then melted candlewax. Following is a core of sweet Tahitian lime zest and pink grapefruit, then mandarin oil and flesh that seemingly washes over a salty limestone base. I note here that the acidity is surging at first then coheres into a fine, rapier line straight down the middle of the tongue. This segues into a pleasing tartness, in turn then into gastronomic bitterness akin to mandarin pith and lemon peel; then citrus and coriander seed. The finish is staggeringly fresh, with lingering salinity and slight repeating notes of dried honey and wax. A wild ride; incredible. Excellent.”
— David
Order here
(Link)
III
the rare Spatburgunder
Werkstatt 2025 Mount Gambier Pinot Noir (Limited Release)
available in person today only
Offer: $65.00
“The Werkstatt 2025 Mount Gambier Pinot Noir pours an ideal ruby, full coloured yet always transparent. Initially, there is a haze of reduction and a blur from the still integrating oak across the aromatic profile of the wine. Drawing apart with air, there appears as sunlight does through a fault in curtains, a bright line of sea spray salinity and limestone minerality that prefaces a bouquet built on such minerality. Red and black cherry with a touch of Morello, along with hazelnut and baking spices, and green walnut. Notes of dark chocolate couverture, tarragon leaves and toasted fennel seed, and blood orange add complexity. The base is naturally limestone, flecked with touches of bromide. Such a foundation lends freshness even when the fruit feels solar, and the treatment suitably plush.
The palate is fresh and lively. There is again a light trimming of fine oak here that is still integrating. The acidity feels channelled centrally, as if down the middle of the tongue in a line that matches the finesse of the tannins. There is a sense of elegance here even if there is the massive presence of the limestone beneath. Very flowing; one is swept up in the wine, from the silken entry through building acidity and chalky phenolic to the pleasingly bitter-accented conclusion.
The core: Sweet black and Morello cherry fruit wrapped first in tarragon and blood orange, then bay. Further out circle hazelnuts including, again, bitter oils from the skin of same, along with orange rind and very dark chocolate. The finish is reassuringly still very closed and possesses fine repeating mineral touches long after the other flavours subside.”
— David
…
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.