Classic cool climate spicy Shiraz from the Alpine Valleys.
$45.00
Released November 2024
A cool and European season produced peppery, perfumed and finely structured Shiraz. The 2022 harvest was two-three weeks later than ‘usual’ and the crop enjoyed the benefits of long, slow ripening without extreme temperatures.
The Mayford vineyard currently has 14 different clones of Shiraz planted, many of which are hard-to-come-by heritage clones. Each brings a different expression of the variety and contributes complexity and interest to the overall blend. The new clonal plantings give perfume and fragrance- the original 28 year-old Shiraz block bringing maturity, depth and power.
Small parcels of Shiraz were selectively hand-picked over the first three weeks of April and vinified separately according to clone and harvest date. Each batch was chilled and cold soaked prior to spontaneous fermentation by indigenous yeasts. Complexity was enhanced by varying times on skins, percentages of whole berry/bunch, degrees of post ferment maceration and of course a diverse range of cooperages. Oak maturation was in French barriques for 18 months, 30% new.
Punchy pepper and spice characters lead, pretty with blood plum, anise, violets and fresh leather. Christmas pudding spice, pink peppercorn, soy, sweet plum and raspberry fruits weave on the palate that is all mineral and medium weighted, but long and laced with soft tannins.
Drink 2025- 2035.
Bottled July 2024
Bottled under screwcap.
Mayford 2023 Tempranillo
An outstanding Tempranillo release. Powerful, layered, dark and complex- in the classic Mayford style.
$50.00
Released November 2024
Another mild and European style of season produced elegant, aromatic and structural Tempranillo with enormous aging potential. The 2023 harvest was the third in a cool cycle and the crop enjoyed the benefits of long, slow ripening without extreme temperatures.
Tempranillo was hand-picked in ten small parcels over the last 12 days of March. Each separate batch was chilled and cold soaked prior to natural ferment in open pots with extensive hand plunging. Some batches had a percentage of stalk and whole bunch inclusion and others, extended post ferment-maceration. Ten ferments, five clones.
Each wine was then basket pressed before being put to barrel for maturation in French barriques (25% new) for eleven months, retaining malo lees for texture and complexity before blending and filtration.
Beautifully fragrant with dark forest fruits, black cherry, coffee-cola, violets, musk and charry charcuterie notes. The palate is brooding and expressive with black fruits, crushed herb and an earthy savouriness. Excellent weight and depth are rippled with firm, velvety tannins. Highly age-worthy. Youthful but already delicious.
Drink 2025-2038.
Bottled February 2024
Bottled under screwcap.
Mayford 2023 Chardonnay
An exceptional and slow ripening vintage for Chardonnay has borne a wine of lusciousness, minerality and precision.
$50.00
Released November 2024
Cool conditions in summer and autumn of 2023 pushed harvest into late February and March, giving the crop extended ripening time on vine. Small parcels of Chardonnay were hand-picked, chilled and whole bunch pressed sequentially to French barriques, 25% new. Fermentation in oak by indigenous yeasts followed before an eleven-month maturation period with lees stirring and full malo to offset the high natural acidity of the season.
Complex aromatics of citrus blossom, toasted nuts, yellow peach, bees wax, crème brulee and flint. The palate offers texture and a perfect balance of fruit weight, refreshing acidity and lovely, luscious length. It meshes finesse with power and persistence. A beautiful wine that will delight and evolve for decades.
Drink 2025 – 2045.
Bottled February 2024
Bottled under screw cap.
Mayford 2021 “Ovens Crossing”
“An attention-grabbing blend highlighting all the strengths of two classic grapes: tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon. Ripe blue, red and black berries mesh beautifully with dried rosemary, earth, red licorice and vanillin oak. So smooth it glides across the tongue. Tannins are just so, spice is heady, the effect is stunningly memorable.”
2025 Halliday Wine Companion – Gold – Rating 96
$65.00
Released August 2024
A cool and European season produced perfumed and finely structured wineswith excellent aging potential. The 2021 harvest was two-three weeks later than ‘usual’ and the crop enjoyed the benefits of long, slow ripening without extreme temperatures. The distinct diurnal range of the sub-alpine Mayford vineyard in Porepunkah provides ideal conditions for ripening Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, the two heroes of this unique blend, with Malbec in a minor, yet major role, adding aromatic precision and fresh minerality.
Small parcels of low-cropping Tempranillo were hand-picked from the ridge of the oldest Tempranillo block in mid-March, and the Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec some three weeks later. Each batch was chilled and cold soaked before undergoing natural yeast fermentation in small open fermenters, then basket pressed, just prior to dryness, to finish fermentation and MLF in oak.
Nominally allocated at pressing for the Ovens Crossing blend, these components were put to French oak barriques – 50% new – for 11 months and then blended and returned to older oak for a further 13 months. A further 18 months of bottle maturation allowed the oak, fruit and tannins to weave their way into balance for a late winter 2024 release.
Deeply scented with dark, exotic fruits- cassis and black berries- freshened with violet floral notes and spice box- a heady mix of sandlewood, anise, dried rosemaryand cloves. A truly gorgeous wine- dark, brooding, layered and delicious. With depth but also lightness, complexity as well as freshness, rippling with fine tannins, bursting with fragrance and all in perfect pitch.
Drink 2024-2039
Bottled February 2023
Bottled under screw cap.
Mayford Ovens Crossing is made in limited volumes from exceptional vintages.
Mayford 2022 ‘Rosewhite’ Cabernet Sauvignon
A special limited release of age-worthy Cabernet sourced from one of the Alpine Valleys’ oldest vineyards.
$55.00
Released July 2024
I have known Kay and Allan Souter, the (now former) owners of the old ‘Rosewhite Vineyard’, since 2004, when I borrowed a bit of winemaking equipment and in return, made some wine for them. Established in 1982, it is a modest little plot, just five acres on a well-drained north-facing site with granitic soils. The vineyard has small volumes of Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Shiraz but it is the Cabernet Sauvignon that has always stood apart for me. The Souter’s winemaking venture was always secondary to their Melbourne-based professional lives, but for close to twenty years they quietly produced small volumes of lovely wine under their eponymous wine label.
In 2021 Allan and Kay decided that retirement from professional life should also extend to their winemaking ventures and a parcel of slow ripened Rosewhite Cabernet came my way. In 2022 I was again fortunate to have access to this fruit, and took custody of a small parcel of hand-picked Cabernet in mid April. It was chilled, crushed and cold soaked prior to natural ferment in an open pot with extensive hand plunging. At the conclusion of ferment, it was basket pressed and matured in French barriques (30% new) for eleven months, retaining malo lees for texture and complexity.
The 2022 Mayford ‘Rosewhite’ Cabernet Sauvignon is perfumed, balanced and ageworthy. Deeply fragrant with notes of violet, cassis, dried herbs, plush dark fruits and cocoa, the palate is full bodied and supple with dusty varietal tannins.
Drink 2026 – 2040.
Bottled February 2024
Bottled under screwcap.
- Drink 2022-2035.
- Bottled February 2022
- Bottled under screwcap.
Mayford 2022 Tempranillo
Eleana Anderson is the tempranillo whisperer, a natural when it comes to the Spanish grape. Brings a real sense of elegance and class to the ’22, not the easiest of vintages. Gentle black cherry, plum, bramble, earth and dried herb aromas. A refined palate awaits, one sensitively managed by well-judged oak and fine tannins. A vinous picture of sophistication.
Jeni Port – Halliday Wine Companion 2025
$45.00
Released November 2023
Another cool and European style of season produced elegant and aromatic Tempranillo with fine, velvety tannins. The 2022 harvest was even later than the late 2021 season and the crop enjoyed the benefits of long, slow ripening without extreme temperatures.
Tempranillo was hand-picked in ten small parcels over late March and early April 2023. Each separate batch was chilled and cold soaked prior to natural ferment in open pots with extensive hand plunging. Some batches had a percentage of stalk and whole bunch inclusion and others, extended post ferment-maceration.
Each wine was then basket pressed before being put to barrel for maturation in French barriques (25% new) for eleven months, retaining malo lees for texture and complexity before blending and filtration.
Svelte and perfumed, with aromas of black cherry, violets, musk, sarsaparilla and charred meats. The palate shows poise and balance. It is mid-weight with fleshy dark fruits, black cherry and sarsaparilla, spice, bitter chocolate, and char, licked together with fine, powdery, tongue-coating tannins.
Beautifully elegant and balanced.
Drink 2024-2035.
Bottled February 2023
Bottled under screwcap.
Mayford 2021 ‘Lesley Rose’ Shiraz
In the established Mayford tradition of paying tribute to our family elders, this special release marks the occasion of Bryan’s mother’s ninetieth birthday. Lesley Rose Nicholson is a much-loved part of our family and has given her care and support to our grape-growing and winemaking endeavours for many decades. Although she hung up the picking snips on her eightieth birthday she continues to do what she can to help and likes nothing better than to end her day with a glass of Mayford. A wine of grace and finesse to honour this kind-hearted lady.
SOLD OUT
- Drink 2022-2035.
- Bottled February 2022
- Bottled under screwcap.
Released November 2023
A cool and European season produced perfumed and finely structured Shiraz with excellent aging potential. The 2021 harvest was two-three weeks later than ‘usual’ and the crop enjoyed the benefits of long, slow ripening without extreme temperatures.
The Mayford vineyard currently has 14 different clones of Shiraz planted, many of which are hard-to-come-by heritage clones. Each brings a different expression of the variety and contributes complexity and interest to the overall blend. The new clonal plantings give perfume and fragrance- the original 28 year-old Shiraz block bringing maturity, depth and power.
Small parcels of Shiraz were selectively hand-picked over the last week of March and the first weeks of April and vinified separately according to clone and harvest date. Each batch was chilled and cold soaked prior to spontaneous fermentation by indigenous yeasts. Complexity was enhanced by varying times on skins, percentages of whole berry/bunch, degrees of post ferment maceration and of course a diverse range of cooperages. Oak maturation was in French barriques for 18 months, 30% new.
A fragrant clutch of violets, rose petals, coffee liqueur, anise, blood plums, dried herb, spice and smoked hickory rise from the glass.. Smooth, textural and balanced, the palate shows whole-bunch complexity and lovely length and texture. Grace, restraint and beauty.
Drink 2024- 2038.
Bottled January 2023
Bottled under screwcap.
