Some of you maybe know Charles Osborne through Konpira Maru (where he has been a value part of the team since 2013). After a decade behind the scenes, Charlie finally decided to have a crack at the side-hustle. He’s been lucky enough to source fruit from their vineyard in the Whitlands, plus from further down the mountain and has proved to have a deft hand in the winery. These are micro batches of wine which balance personality with accessibility “Wine that could be drunk from a cup at the park or a glass over dinner. A wine that doesn’t discriminate”
Pet-Nat (Smoke Gets in your eyes) Glera, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Meuniere, Whitfield VIC 2021 LUC $16.80
Combined as a field blend and left on skins overnight before pressing to stainless. Done in true Pet-Nat style and bottled during primary ferment. This is a 2021 vintage having sat on lees for 12 months (a nice evolution for the style)
Vermentino, Merbein VIC 2022 LUC $16.80
Grown by Chalmers, left in press overnight on skins before moving to old oak and stainless (10% going to a new Laroi barrel). Third year using this fruit and never disappoints.
Gewurztraminer, Whitfield VIC 2022 LUC $16.80
Tough conditions meant this was picked a couple of weeks earlier than usual. Left on skins for three weeks before pressing to old oak and stainless. Lighter style than previous vintages with a peach tea-like tannins
Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay & Vermentino VIC 2022 LUC $16.80
From Whitfield, Whitlands and Merbein. Aged under Flor since 2020 in Laroi and Sauri puncheons. Racked off lees two weeks before bottling. Zero Sulphur adds.
Field Blend, Whitlands VIC 2022 LUC $16.80
“Nestled above Whitfield at roughly 820m elevation is the vineyard I manage for Konpira Maru. The back block has some amazing varieties and I have been lucky enough to work with them the last few years. This is a true field blend, all co fermented and left on skins for 1 week before being transferred to stainless. Pinot Meunier, Friulano, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, Traminer and small parcels of Kerner, Muscat Ottonel, Erenfelser, Scheurebe, Siegerrebe, Rotgipfler and Zierfandlers”
Pinot Noir, Whitfield VIC 2022 LUC $16.80
Picked the same day as the gewurztraminer. 30% whole bunch, pressed just before dry. All was racked to old barrels. Grown by gabe and Dino Cavedon