Description
‘If you’re into the new wave of true fine wine producers of Australia you should be onto, should get onto, Domenica. Classics in the making. Rising high. Peter Graham got schooled (partly) at the great Giaconda winery in Beechworth. This is where he struts his own stuff. Single vineyard wine sent to large format oak to rest a while. It’s impressive.’ Mike Bennie Wine Front
After 13 years making wine at his uncles domain, Giaconda, Peter Graham decided to set up his own winery. Domenica sits 460m above sea level atop the granite ridge sweeping away to the south west of Beechworth. The wines are vividly reflective of their origin, a gripping mineral texture encasing the mature vine vitality of the varietals chosen to express it. Winemaking is traditional. Taste is more important than numbers. The yeasts come from the site, not a packet. Pressings, solids and lees all play their part completing the picture. The wines are carefully maintained in oak barriques before being bottled unfiltered.
Domenica holds the oldest Nebbiolo vines in Beechworth, producing a classic and age worthy wine. The single acre of Nebbiolo is grown in a cool, protected pocket on the southern corner of the property. Tiny yields per vine develop the intensity of fruit required to make Nebbiolo with beautiful structure, and a deep complex core of fruit. The Wine Front has described Domenica’s as “the best Nebbiolo in Australia” and is a top rated wine in the Halliday Wine Companion. This really is outstanding!
From the winemaker about this vintage: “Spring of 2024 saw a late widespread frost significantly affecting the Estate Nebbiolo vines. While the vines naturally recover from this, yields were heavily reduced, leading to a much smaller volume of wine produced. The remaining growing season was relatively benign, with adequate rain through summer, then dry and warm through the long ripening phase. Harvest took place in mid-April, as is usual for our Nebbiolo.
“As a result of the low yield, the wine has a natural density and quiet depth. Aromatically the fruit is amplified, and while currently the primary driver of the wine, it can be expected to mature into a confident and classic wine of structure and power. The low yield fruit intensity along with the warmth of the ripening season has ensured early approachability, but the greatest rewards from this wine will undoubtedly come from time in the cellar.”
Just released … get it while stocks last!
Reviews for previous release – 95 points, Ned Goodwin, JamesSuckling “This may be the finest Australian nebbiolo yet tasted. A bright mid-crimson, shifting to a detailed spread of vigorous red fruit accents, hints of ironstone, dried thyme and lilac. Gorgeous stuff. Mid-weighted of feel such is the pixelated detail, levity and brightness in the mouth. A testament to the oft-used notion that nebbiolo bares considerable similarities to pinot noir. I could drink a great deal of this such is the structural compression and rivulet of pure, sumptuous fruit. Exquisite! Drink or hold.”
95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front “Side by side, tasting Nebbiolo from two doyens of the grape variety in Australia. Pannell and Graham. Very good. Protero and Domenica, different but equally good expressions of this great grape. Closed with a DIAM now, rather than screwcap. Interesting. So often with DIAM, the cork won’t fit back into the bottle, so I stuffed a PdB cork into it to do the job. Also, as someone who drinks a shit tonne (should that be one word?) of Nebbiolo, these wines are not being given a handicap for being Australian. They’re simply great, but different, expressions of Neb. Cherry, liquorice/dried mint, baking spice, dried roses, almond and charcuterie. It’s juicy, cherry, ripe strawberry and amaro herbs, supple dusty tannin and layers of sweet spice, juicy ripe orange acidity, and a stony and dry, slightly peppery, finish of excellent length. So good.”
RRP $95 Our Special Price $83.99 – extremely limited!
