2008 Bindi Pre-Arrival Offer, Plus all the David LeMire MW courses for 2009.

5 April 2009

Once again East End Cellars is very proud to offer Michael Dhillon's Bindi wines as a pre-arrival campaign. Michael Dhillon produces some of Australia’s greatest Chardonnay’s and Pinot Noir’s under the Bindi label. These wines are very sought after, and certain to draw much attention. Allocations are small and the wines are incredible.... Basically what we are saying is don't hesitate.

Once again the allocations have been separated into two lots but we are taking orders for all the wines now and we require payment in full for all orders, once confirmed.

Vintage Notes From Bindi:
In the face of some significantly difficult years, the blessing that is 2008 was joyously received here at Bindi.  For sure, the season had its challenges, most notably, a hail storm at veraison and a heatwave at harvest that had the potential to twist fruit purity into fruit jam.  We were lucky enough not to experience any notable hail damage (we had put on the Pinot Noir nets the morning of the storm and this minimised the damage) and we harvested a bountiful crop in record time to thwart the stifling, dehydrating run of 35 plus degree days.

Two thousand and eight a blessing?  Despite over a decade of drought and rainfall averaging 66% of the annual long term norm the 2007-2008 season saw significant falls at exactly the appropriate times of budburst, pre flowering and leading to veraison.  The weather at flowering was warm and tranquil and the crop was set efficiently.  Our regime of no chemical inputs combined with life enriching applications supported by a significant number of hand passes through the vineyard ensured the vines were healthy and resilient.  The mild winter and earlier than usual budburst set the clock for an early vintage.  We were tracking well with our grape testing and net removal and the possibility of an absolutely outstanding vintage was high.  Then five days of unremitting heat almost undid a year’s work.  In the 1990s we had at least a good week to pick our fruit in the perfect window where acid, sugar and flavour were in alignment.  In 2008 it was a window of about 48 hours and I'd say we got the fruit in at the 40th hour!  One particularly interesting outcome observed at the time, and confirmed as the wines evolved in barrel, is that the sugar accumulated rapidly but the acidity and flavours held.  The result for Bindi is classically flavoured wines with vibrancy and a defining back palate power and texture.  Not a heaviness but a flourish and drive.  It is my belief that the 2008s will deliver a lot of pleasure over the next half dozen years and, for several wines, well beyond.  The vintage does have a resemblance to previous years; in short, there are similarities to 2004 (fragrant and silken) with elements of 2005 (intensity and drive).
Michael Dhillon

Wines For June 2009 Delivery

2003 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir Sparkling @ $45

"The first disgorging of this wine after five years on lees. The nose is tight with some lemon, spice and cream nuances. The palate is fine and racy. Certainly this no malo style has greater linearity!  It is deliciously dry and long. Three years plus in bottle will give greater texture and depth but it is delicious and vibrant right now.”

2000 Blanc de Blanc @ $45

"The third and last disgorging of 50 dozen of this wine after eight years on lees. It retains the citrus freshness of previous disgorgements with some increased fullness on the palate from the increased time on lees. By comparison with the above wine this is rich and creamy but still retains a mineral drive. It still has delightful vitality after eight years on lees."

2008 Composition Chardonnay @ $42

"The typical lifted jasmine like aromas combine with grapefruit, lemon, white nectarine and spice to give an impression of vitality and complexity.  With time in glass and, more relevantly, bottle, greater creamy and nutty nuances will evolve.  The palate is tight, vibrant, mouth filling, dry and long.  There are delicious creamy elements on the back palate from extensive time on lees in barrel.  Naturally, this wine is youthful and vigorous now and will improve well for three plus years.”

2008 Composition Pinot Noir @ $47

"This wine really reminds me of the 2004 with some added complexity, richness and drive from, say, 2005.  The nose is very seductive for its fresh red cherry, strawberry, spice, cream and licorice notes. The palate has delicious layers of these flavours with some earthiness and tannin-drive carrying the finish.  Drinking window?  Well, there is no question this wine will be drinking at its best when it is well sold out!  It is accessible and delicious now but just two or three years aging will provide more nuance on the nose and much increased flourish on the palate.”

Wines For October 2009 Delivery

2008 Quartz Chardonnay @ $70

"Perhaps the most powerful wine of the vintage. Here the vineyard speaks strongly and the nose is restrained in fruit (citrus with white flowers thrown in). The mineral characters and nuttiness dominate. And the palate is emphatic with enormous volume and mouth feel. It is a very interesting Quartz and is even more than usual about stones and minerals. In some ways it reminds me of Vouvray! It should drink particularly well over the next half dozen years and perhaps beyond.”

2008 Original Pinot Noir @ $70

"The super creamy fragrance, opulence and clarity of fruit with underlying minerality and spice make this a gorgeous vintage of Original Vineyard.  The palate is juicy, fresh, seamless and driven by fine, lovely fruit carrying tannin.  For sure, it will be a compelling wine to enjoy over the next few years but will develop into a sublime wine given four to six years.”

2008 Block 5 Pinot Noir @ $95

"The typical differences between the Original Vineyard and Block 5 are evident in 2008.  Here there is black fruit as well as red; cherries and plums.  It is a relatively backward nose but shows layers with ginger and nutmeg, earth and minerals.  The palate is deep, very powerful, very intense and expands across the back palate.  It drives long.  Certainly half a dozen years will add significant dimensions to both nose and palate.”

2008 Pyrette Heathcote Shiraz @ $35

"There is a pleasing consistency in the run of vintages of this wine we have been making since 2001.  Here there is almost a Chateauneuf like sweet fruit and mineral interplay.  The nose is very fresh and pure with raspberry and dark plum characters underpinning a delicious fragrance.  The palate is vibrant and driven and is showing a pleasing increase in structure as the vines are a decade old now.  This style of Shiraz, and Heathcote Shiraz at that, is interestingly finding an increasing audience.  When we began making wine from this vineyard in 2001 we were asked why we were harvesting so early with fruit that was not 'physiologically ripe' and why would we not be producing a sweeter, plumier style of wine.  There's an essay in this I know but my preference is for wine that shows freshness, vibrancy, purity of red and dark fruits and is not dominated by sweetness nor heavy, dry tannins.”

For all orders please e-mail wine@eastendcellars.com.au or give us a call on 08 8232 5300.

David LeMire MW Courses

Following the success of our many tastings with David LeMire, Master of Wine,  we will present a series of only four tastings in 2009. This year the tastings will be held in our own private cellar, just to add to the romance...

These tastings have been very popular and are bound to sell out quick, so as always do not delay.

Wednesday May 6th  White Burgundy @ $195
Wednesday  July 1st   Red Burgundy  @ $195
Wednesday August 5th Nebbiolo @ $195
Wednesday October 21st Champagne @ $145

You can book all four or individual evenings to take advantage of our own, state-of-the-art Walking Wine Encyclopaedia. Book on-line, send us an e-mail wine@eastendcellars.com.au or give us a call.

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