WINELIST No. 68
Dear Mailing List Member,
Winter has well and truly set in here at Ashton Hills, but despite the cold, it has been unusually dry. In one of the wettest places in South Australia its odd to be this far into the year with almost no rain since last year.
When Stephen planted the Ashton Hills vineyard in 1982, he knew the growing conditions would be tough more years than not. It is the marginal sites that often produce the best wines. In 2024 Mother Nature, once again, dealt some cruel weather in the formative stages of the growing season which affected yields across the Adelaide Hills. The tiny crops were nursed through the growing season and hand-picked in early March. The entire vintage was picked in 13 days, and the fast and furious picking meant the processing was equally intense, so it was a blessing to have some shiny new fermenters to fill up! It was also a baptism of fire for the new processing equipment, which produced excellent results. At the moment I’m busy tasting and assessing the individual batches. It’s always interesting how the wines develop in barrel, and the different personalities of each batch.
I recently snuck over to Melbourne and Sydney to host Martini Club dinners. It was great to catch up with some of our interstate members and show the current line-up of wines, as well as some back vintages with delicious food. These events are something I hope to do each year, so keep an eye on your emails to make sure you don’t miss the next one!
Speaking of Martini Club events, planning is already underway for this year’s Martini Club Lunches here on the Ashton Hills estate. This year, lunches will be held on Friday 8, Saturday 9 and Sunday 10
November. Tickets will go on sale later in the year and we will be sure to send you a reminder before they do.
Liza and I are excited to share our new look Ashton Hills website and store, which provides an improved online shopping experience. If you are an existing Martini Club member and haven’t already logged in to the new site, please check your email to reactivate your account, or contact Liza for assistance.
At this time of year, the fire is roaring in Cellar Door, so dust off your raincoat and come up and see us. To make sure we can accommodate you comfortably, please book online, or call Liza to make arrangements. We look forward to hosting you soon.
Cheers, Liam Van Pelt Winemaker
2023 IN THE PICCADILLY VALLEY
For the second year in a row the Piccadilly Valley growing season resulted in reduced yields. The long, cool and wet winter pushed into December affecting flowering, and a cooler than average start to the year meant the small bunches and berries needed well into March/April to reach maturity.
The 2023 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir is sourced from a handful of grower vineyards within a five-km radius of the estate. Some whole bunch fruit (10%) was added to ferments, enhancing aromatics and structural complexity. Fermentation was initiated by indigenous yeast (wild ferment). Each parcel was basket pressed directly to seasoned French oak barriques and puncheons with full solids. All barrels were kept on lees to build palate weight, body, texture and complexity. They were racked and blended just prior to bottling.
The 2023 Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay was vinified with wild barrel ferments with some lees stirring in the early stages of its nine month maturation. Ripening was idyllic for Chardonnay in 2023 and this release again demonstrates the hallmark balance of powerful stone fruit flavours and taught natural acidity.
“Offers up scents of green apple, ginger and arrowroot biscuits, lime, woody spices and faint mushroom notes. The palate lines up similar descriptors and delivers light creaminess with some chalky follow-through and a pleasing pink grapefruit twist through the minerally, briny finish. Classy wine from a tricky year.” – Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion.
Both wines are available to purchase in our online store and in Cellar Door now.
LIMITED EDITION
LARGE FORMAT BOTTLES
Because sometimes one bottle isn’t enough, we are proud to release a limited-edition collection of Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay magnums. Limited to one bottle of each per customer, these large format bottles retail for $110, or just $99 for Martini Club members.
Both wines are available to purchase in our online store and in Cellar Door now.
RESERVE CHARDONNAY
2023 RELEASE
The 2023 Reserve Chardonnay is a barrel selection from three exceptional Piccadilly Valley sites. The Woods Hill vineyard runs parallel to the Ashton Hills estate, on the west side of Tregarthen Road and the Bowhouse vineyard is located in the southwest corner of the Piccadilly Valley. Both vineyards are now leased by Ashton Hills and under the watchful eye of our Viticulturist, Anton Groffen.
The third vineyard is grown by Sam Virgara in the heart of the Piccadilly Valley. Ashton Hills has been sourcing fruit from the Vigara vineyard since 2017 due to its exceptional quality and flavour profiles, perfect for Reserve Chardonnay.
Following in the footsteps of the highly pointed 2021 and 2022 vintages, the 2023 vintage will be sold on allocation, with three bottles available per customer.
SPECIAL OFFERS
Piccadilly Valley Six
2 x 2020 Piccadilly Valley Vintage Rosé
2 x 2023 Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay (NEW)
2 x 2023 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir (NEW)
WineList price $243 Regular Price $270
Buy now online, or visit Liza in Cellar Door to secure yours.
New Release Six
3 x 2023 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir (NEW) 3 x 2023 Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay (NEW)
WineList price $243 Regular Price $270
2023 Ashton Hills Gamay
2023 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir
2023 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir 1.5L Magnum (1 bottle per customer)
2022 Estate Pinot Noir (6 bottles per customer)
2022 Reserve Pinot Noir
2023 Estate Riesling
2023 Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay
2023 Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 1.5L Magnum (1 bottle per customer)
2023 Reserve Chardonnay (3 bottles per customer)
Whites Sparkling
2020 Piccadilly Valley Vintage Rosé Sparkling
2017 ClareValley Sparkling Shiraz
Special Offers
Piccadilly Valley Six
New Release Six
Martini Club Members - Receive 10% discount across the range. Ask our cellar door staff how you can join today!
Ashton Hills Members - Receive free delivery Australia wide for orders of 12 bottles or more. I do not wish to receive special offers or promotional material
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