AUSTRALIA. our best buys for First releases from d Arenberg, Rockford, Cullen, Leeuwin, Ben Glaetzer, Grosset, Kooyong and Freycinet

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1 Also inside an exclusive limited edition Stonewell Shiraz Vertical Case AUSTRALIA our best buys for 2011 First releases from d Arenberg, Rockford, Cullen, Leeuwin, Ben Glaetzer, Grosset, Kooyong and Freycinet AZAPR11 thewinesociety.com/australia Excellent everyday wines from 6.50

2 Cover (clockwise from top left): Margaret River s Leeuwin Estate is home to perhaps the country s finest chardonnay; David Hohnen of McHenry Hohnen; Kooyong vines in Mornington Peninsula; three generations of Purbricks from Tahbilk: John (left), Hayley and Alister. Western Australia 1. Swan Valley 2. Margaret River 3. Great Southern AUSTRALIA South Australia 4. Clare Valley 5. Barossa Valley 6. Eden Valley Langhorne Creek 9. Limestone Coast 1 Perth WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2 3 SOUTH AUSTRALIA Adelaide NEW SOUTH WALES 10 Sydney VICTORIA Melbourne New South Wales 10. Hunter Valley Victoria 11. Nagambie Lakes 12. Grampians 13. Geelong 14. Mornington Peninsula Tasmania 15. Freycinet Peninsula TASMANIA 15 This offer features our best Australian wine buys for As every new vintage passes, stylistic differences become more pronounced within and between the regions. The Australian winemakers we follow are passionate about their vineyards and territories, and about expressing that individuality and sense of place in the glass. Whether it s Barossa shiraz, Margaret River cabernet or Mornington Peninsula chardonnay, the quality of Australian wine today is compelling. The key to finding the country's best quality wines is to seek out the best regions and discover which growers to follow from each. Our best buys for 2011 include the following highlights: excellent everyday wines from 6.50 (opposite) new discoveries, including a new and exclusive McHenry Hohnen Margaret River sauvignon (see page 4) first-releases from d Arenberg, Rockford, Cullen, Leeuwin, Ben Glaetzer, Grosset, Kooyong and Freycinet (see pages 4-7) a museum release of Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz 2000 (see page 7) an exclusive limited-edition vertical mixed case of Peter Lehmann s Stonewell Shiraz in magnums (see page 7) Pierre Mansour Society Buyer 2 To order thewinesociety.com/australia

3 EXCELLENT EVERYDAY WINES FROM 6.50 Whites Reds Wirra Wirra vineyards, The Society s Unoaked Australian Chardonnay, Wirra Wirra s wonderfully fruity, tropical-tasting Aussie chardonnay with no oak which at a modest 12.5% is very drinkable indeed. ref AZ-AU bottle 78 dozen NEW Killerby Chardonnay, 2010, Western Australia Excellent value Western Australian chardonnay. Peachy and full-flavoured with refreshing finish and just a delicate touch of oak. 13.5% ref AZ-AU bottle 90 dozen 88 Growers Semillon, 2009, Barossa Wonderfully clean, dry white from Peter Lehmann, which is gentle, fleshy and lemony. Made with no oak and only 10.5% alcohol, this is moreish and incredibly easy to drink. ref AZ-AU bottle 93 dozen NEW Heartland Stickleback White, 2010, South Australia Ben Glaetzer s little blend of verdelho, viognier and semillon is bursting with delicious citrus flavour. Unoaked. 12% ref AZ-AU bottle 102 dozen The Society s Spicy Australian Red A rich, full-bodied and juicy shiraz from Bleasdale in South Australia s Langhorne Creek. 14.5% ref AZ-AU bottle 81 dozen Grant Burge Benchmark Shiraz, 2009, Barossa Proper South Australian shiraz, smooth, generously fruity and satisfying. 14% ref AZ-AU bottle 81 dozen NEW d Arenberg Red Ochre, 2009, A brilliant grenache-shiraz-mourvèdre blend with bags of character for the price. Round, soft and succulent. 14% ref AZ-AU bottle 87 dozen The Society s Australian Shiraz-Cabernet Made at Bleasdale s historic winery in Langhorne Creek, this peppery, blackberry-flavoured red is round, fleshy and robust. 14.5% ref AZ-AU bottle 90 dozen NEW Killerby Cabernet-Merlot, 2009, Western Australia An excellent introduction to Western Australia s famous cabernet-merlot blends. This has real lift and delicious fruity flavour. 14.5% ref AZ-AU bottle 90 dozen d Arry s son Chester d Arenberg Osborn, chief winemaker since 1984 KEY See the List for full details on alcohol levels bone dry, to intensely sweet Synthetic closure Screwcap closure The 120-year-old, hand-sawn red gum lever press in the Bleasdale cellar weighs 3.5 tons, is 15 metres long and stands 7 metres high. FREE UK delivery when you order at least 12 bottles or if your order is 75 or more To order thewinesociety.com/australia

4 WESTERN AUSTRALIA Margaret River, Great Southern Style: Elegant and fragrant wines. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and semillon are the stand-out grapes. Western Australia s refreshing, juicy whites deservedly enjoy quite a following among members. A notable addition this year is an exclusive Wine Society bottling from McHenry Hohnen s sauvignon blanc vineyard, one of Margaret River s most established sites. We also feature an outstanding cool-climate chardonnay from Stella Bella. The 2008 reds are supple, refined and very charming indeed. White NEW MadFish Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon, 2010, Western Australia Delicious, unoaked white made by Howard Park with peachy fruit and soft texture. 12.5% ref AZ-AU bottle 107 dozen NEW McHenry Hohnen The Wine Society s Special Selection Sauvignon Blanc, 2010, Margaret River We jumped at the opportunity to bottle this single-vineyard sauvignon exclusively for members. From Murray McHenry and David Hohnen s Burnside vineyard which produces exquisite sauvignon fruit that until 2010 was sold to Cape Mentelle. This is a finely-structured, restrained and pure sauvignon with gorgeous fruit flavours. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 131 dozen Reds NEW Plantagenet Riesling, 2009, Great Southern The 2009, a cool vintage, is even better than the lovely Light, minerally with zippy, juicy fruit, this is a delightful riesling. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 155 dozen NEW Stella Bella Chardonnay, 2009, Margaret River Stella Bella s mouthwatering chardonnay gets better every year. The 2009 is perfumed, lemony and very stylish, and a great ambassador for Margaret River chardonnay. This is as good as the 2008 which was awarded five stars at a recent Decanter panel tasting. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 167 dozen NEW Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, 2007, Margaret River Australia s greatest chardonnay continues to exceed expectations. The 2007 is perfumed, broad and very fine. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 588 dozen A great ambassador of Oz chardonnay Oz Chardonnay: A Renaissance There has been a renaissance in both the quality and style of Australia s chardonnays in recent years. Growers have focussed their efforts on cooler sites, such as Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania and Margaret River, and on picking grapes earlier with fresher acidity and brighter fruit. Furthermore, winemakers craft their wines with more care, using oak and other fermentation processes discreetly; the result is world-beating chardonnays which focus on texture, structure and restraint. Our blind tastings at Stevenage confirm Australia s excellence with this grape and the UK trade seem convinced too. Reporting last month on Decanter magazine s Australian Chardonnay Panel Tasting, wine writer Andrew Jefford said: this confirmed for me that chardonnay is Australia s best variety. Skuttlebutt Shiraz-Cabernet, 2008, Margaret River A super Margaret River red which is packed full of fruit yet is still vibrant and succulent. 14% ref AZ-AU bottle 114 dozen NEW Plantagenet Omrah Pinot Noir, 2009, Great Southern Wonderful pinot, generously fruity yet refreshing and relatively modest in structure which would appeal to fans of Burgundy. 14% ref AZ-AU bottle 131 dozen Sandalford Cabernet-Merlot, 2008, Margaret River Perfectly balanced, rich and polished red with plummy, fragrant fruit and ripe tannins. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 150 dozen NEW Stella Bella Luminose Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007, Margaret River The Luminose range from Stella Bella is only made in exceptional vintages. This superb cabernet is both elegant and concentrated with the fine structure so typical of Margaret River s best cabernets. Decant. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 384 dozen NEW Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet-Merlot, 2008, Margaret River The 2008 of this refined cabernet-merlot is marked by its finesse, subtlety and immense charm. Still Australia s most exquisite and elegant Bordeaux red. Biodynamic. Now to % Low stock. ref AZ-AU bottle 588 dozen FREE UK delivery when you order at least 12 bottles or if your order is 75 or more 4 To order thewinesociety.com/australia

5 VICTORIA & NEW SOUTH WALES Mornington Peninsula, Grampians, Nagambie Lakes, Hunter Valley Style: Australia s most diverse wine regions are found in Victoria and New South Wales. Styles vary, the best quality is found in the cooler areas. This selection focuses on what these vast, complex wine regions do best. Hunter Valley semillon is unique, compelling for its ageability and lightness of touch, while Mornington Peninsula chardonnay is linear and elegant. Victoria shiraz is smooth, chocolaty and compact. Kooyong s Sandro Mosele Whites Tahbilk Marsanne, 2008, Nagambie Lakes Aromatic, juicy and lemony marsanne with no oak which is deliciously individual. Now to % The 2009 follows. ref AZ-AU bottle 119 dozen NEW Keith Tulloch Semillon, 2009, Hunter Valley A pristine Hunter Valley semillon, crisp, delicate and precise. Now to % Low stock. ref AZ-AU bottle 131 dozen NEW Kooyong Faultline Chardonnay, 2008, Mornington Peninsula Sandro Mosele s chardonnays are in a class of their own and reshape the notion of Australian chardonnay being opulent and overt. This is a tightly woven, beautifully poised and complex white which should worry Burgundian growers. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 348 dozen NEW Tyrrells Vat 1 Hunter Semillon, 1999, Hunter Valley An outstanding example of just how good aged Hunter semillon can be. Enticing nutty, toasty, honeyed aromas reveal a complex wine with fleshy palate and superb integration. The conservative back label reads drink until at least 2010 but the wine will be delicious enjoyed this year and next based on our recent tasting. 10.5% ref AZ-AU bottle 360 dozen Reds NEW Billi Billi Shiraz, 2007, Grampians Gorgeous, smooth shiraz full of blackberry fruit, white pepper and a creamy finish. 14.5% ref AZ-AU bottle 107 dozen The Society s Exhibition Victoria Shiraz, 2005 Opulent, bold-tasting, velvety shiraz layered with blackberry fruit and a hint of white pepper. The 2005 is delicious for current drinking. Made for us by Mount Langi Ghiran. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 179 dozen TASMANIA Style: Australia s coolest wine region. These wines are famous for their restraint and crisp acidity. Two wines from Freycinet, whose vineyards are on the east coast by Wine Glass Bay, highlight the stunning potential of Tasmanian chardonnay and pinot noir. White The Society s Exhibition Tasmanian Chardonnay, 2009 A smooth, peachy chardonnay with impeccable balance, purity and length of flavour. More restrained than most Australian examples this is made for us by Claudio Radenti at Freycinet whose wines are highly sought after. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 167 dozen Red NEW Freycinet Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2008, Tasmania Very serious pinot noir with black-cherry, earthy flavours, velvety tannins and outstanding length. This special vineyard produces wines with a track record of ageing. Decant to drink now or hold. (Labelled as Wine Glass Bay Pinot Noir in the UK for legal reasons) to % ref AZ-AU bottle 480 dozen It s the cooling ocean breezes that makes Tasmania so ideal for chardonnay and pinot noir See page 7 and the back page for mixed cases Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania To order thewinesociety.com/australia

6 SOUTH AUSTRALIA Barossa, Clare Valley,, Coonawarra, Langhorne Creek Style: Dense, boldly flavoured reds and a fine-tuned riesling is a very fine vintage for Clare Valley riesling and Jeffrey Grosset s Polish Hill is sublime, marking his 30th vintage in style. New releases from Chester Osborn, Ben Glaetzer, Peter Lehmann, Rockford and Bleasdale highlight the top-end of South Australia, and a museum release of Yalumba s The Octavius shows just how well Barossa shiraz can age. We were delighted to secure an exclusive vertical selection of Peter Lehmann s Stonewell in magnums from four vintages which we expect to sell out quickly. Whites NEW Grosset Polish Hill Riesling, 2010, Clare Valley Jeffrey Grosset s latest vintage, his 30th, is one of his finest. Precise, gentle and mineral with a long dry finish. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 252 dozen Exemplary riesling: Grosset s Polish Hill vineyard, Clare Valley Mix your own case choose any 12 bottles Reds NEW Bleasdale Second Innings Malbec, 2009, Langhorne Creek Malbec grows well in the warm Langhorne Creek vineyards. Bleasdale have some superb parcels. This lush, ripe-tasting red oozes brambly fruit. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 119 dozen Yalumba s magnificent two-storeyed blue marble cellar buildings and Clocktower were constructed in 1907 Wirra Wirra Church Block, 2008, A winning blend of cabernet, shiraz and merlot which combines sensuous, bright blackberry fruit with freshness and power. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 131 dozen NEW Rolf Binder Hales Shiraz, 2008, Barossa Rolf Binder and his family make a sensational Barossa shiraz which is exotically fruity and opulent with lots of character. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 126 dozen d Arenberg d Arrys Original Shiraz-Grenache, 2007, McLaren Wonderfully perfumed, silky smooth red with intense blueberry fruit. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 131 dozen NEW Bleasdale Frank Potts, 2008, Langhorne Creek Bleasdale s flagship red is a full-bodied Bordeaux blend with great perfume and structure. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 179 dozen NEW d Arenberg The Wild Pixie Shiraz-Roussanne, 2009, McLaren This experimental addition to d Arenberg s range is an inky red with blueberry and liquorice flavours backed by a robust, ripe structure. Intriguing and delicious. Exclusive to members of The Wine Society. Good now but patience will be rewarded. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 198 dozen Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006, Coonawarra The 2006 vintage made classic Coonawarra cabernet with lovely fragrance and cedary flavour. The midweight palate is generously fruity and structured yet highly elegant. Decant. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 216 dozen Bishop Shiraz 2009, Barossa Ben Glaetzer s red is earning quite a following amongst New World enthusiasts. Opulent and full flavoured, just as good Barossa shiraz should be to % ref AZ-AU bottle 240 dozen Ben Glaetzer: a bastion of the Barossa NEW SC Pannell Shiraz-Grenache, 2006, Very fine, complex and earthy shiraz-grenache which comes from old vineyards in. Steve Pannell is one of Australia's most respected winemakers. His wines are relatively unknown in the UK and worth hunting out. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 276 dozen 6 To order thewinesociety.com/australia

7 NEW d Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2007, Tiny yields in 2007 resulted in a Dead Arm with wonderful concentration. Chunky and dense with great depth, balance and length. Chester Osborn expects this to age extremely well to % ref AZ-AU bottle 324 dozen An Aussie Great: Shiraz exclusive Since its first vintage in 1987, Stonewell has become one of Barossa s finest and most sought-after reds. It is made from Peter Lehmann s best parcels of mostly old, low-yielding vines which produce shiraz of great intensity and complexity. A tasting of every vintage last year proved just how well it ages, marking it out as one of Australia s great wines. Our selection includes the first release of the 2005 vintage as well as an exclusive mixed case of museum releases from Peter Lehmann. NEW Shiraz, 2005, Barossa The 2005 Stonewell is a beauty. The second of three consecutive great vintages, it is a seamless, velvety, ripe and enticingly fruity shiraz which will age well. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 360 dozen Traditional techniques, and transport, are maintained at Rockford Wines in the Barossa NEW Amon Ra, 2009, McLaren The 2009 Amon Ra shiraz from Ben Glaetzer is a wine of great structure, power and length. Still a baby, this is built to last to % ref AZ-AU bottle 480 dozen NEW Rockford Basket Press Shiraz, 2005, Barossa Robert O'Callaghan's legendary shiraz is in a class of its own. Handmade using traditional winemaking techniques, this highly individual wine is dense and velvety, balancing ripe cassis and savoury flavours with incredible length. Now to % ref AZ-AU bottle 480 dozen NEW Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz, 2000, Barossa The Octavius is one of Australia s most iconic shirazes. This museum release is an utterly gorgeous, mature red with leathery, mocha flavours and smooth, mellow palate. Drink now and over the next two years. Decant just before serving. 13.5% ref AZ-AU bottle 588 dozen Shiraz Vertical Case in Magnums ref AZ-MX1146 at 279 Thanks to our relationship with Peter Lehmann we can offer members a limited edition mixed case of four magnums, which has been put together especially for The Society, and comes packed in a wooden case with notes on each wine. These wines are available as part of the mixed case only. Very low stock. Early ordering recommended. A four-magnum wooden case containing a 1.5-litre bottle of each of the following: Shiraz, 2004, Barossa A top Barossa vintage, combining elegance, depth and structure which will age magnificently to Shiraz, 2003, Barossa A creamy and fleshy Stonewell with fine tannins and great length. Beginning to hit its stride. Drink now to Shiraz, 2002, Barossa A magnificent vintage: beautifully balanced and complete with amazing complexity. Now to Shiraz, 2001, Barossa The 2001 is a serious, smoky and fragrant wine layered with ripe plum fruit. A blockbuster. Now to To order thewinesociety.com/australia

8 MIXED CASES Australia s Regional Heroes Case ref AZ-MX1142 at 120 Save A 12-bottle case containing one bottle each of the following: Wirra Wirra Church Block, 2008, Rolf Binder Hales Shiraz, 2008, Barossa d Arenberg d Arrys Original Shiraz-Grenache, 2007, McLaren Sandalford Cabernet-Merlot, 2008, Margaret River Skuttlebutt Shiraz-Cabernet, 2008, Margaret River The Society s Exhibition Victoria Shiraz, 2005 Killerby Chardonnay, 2009, Western Australia MadFish Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon, 2010, Western Australia McHenry Hohnen The Wine Society s Special Selection Sauvignon Blanc, 2010, Margaret River Tahbilk Marsanne, 2008/2009, Nagambie Lakes The Society s Exhibition Tasmanian Chardonnay, 2009 Keith Tulloch Semillon, 2009, Hunter Valley Australian First Growths Case ref AZ-MX1143 at 217 A six-bottle case containing one bottle each of the following: Rockford Basket Press Shiraz, 2005, Barossa d Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz, 2007, Amon Ra, 2009, Cullen Dian a Madeline, 2008, Margaret River Freycinet Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2008, Tasmania Grosset Polish Hill Riesling, 2010, Clare Valley Australian Unoaked Whites Case ref AZ-MX1144 at 95 A 12-bottle case containing two bottles each of the following: The Society s Unoaked Australian Chardonnay, McLaren 88 Growers Semillon, 2009, Barossa Heartland Stickleback White, 2009/2010, South Australia Killerby Chardonnay, 2010, Western Australia MadFish Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon, 2010, Western Australia Tahbilk Marsanne, 2008/2009, Nagambie Lakes Australian Reds Case ref AZ-MX1145 at 89 A 12-bottle case containing two bottles each of the following: The Society s Australian Spicy Red Grant Burge Benchmark Shiraz, 2009, Barossa The Society s Australian Shiraz-Cabernet d Arenberg Red Ochre, 2009, Killerby Cabernet-Merlot, 2009, Western Australia Billi Billi Shiraz, 2007, Grampians See page 7 for an exclusive Shiraz Vertical Case This offer is open until Sunday 1st May, 2011 while stocks last. To order thewinesociety.com/australia The Society s Guarantee Drinking wine bought from The Wine Society should be a pleasurable experience. If at any time you are dissatisfied, we would like to hear from you. Contact us and we will be pleased to help. twitter.com/thewinesociety societygrapevine.com facebook.com/thewinesociety Registered as: The International Exhibition Co-operative Wine Society Limited, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2BT Website thewinesociety.com Enquiries Orders