Description
Bindi’, 50 kilometres north-west of Melbourne in the Macedon Ranges, is the family property of the Dhillon family. Originally purchased in the 1950s as part of the larger grazing farm ‘Bundaleer’, ‘Bindi’ is a 170 hectare farm of which 7 hectares are planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Fifteen hectares are dedicated to managed plantation eucalypts for high grade furniture timber whilst the remainder of the land is maintained as remnant bush land and important indigenous grasslands.
The Bindi vineyard is the fundamental focus of our endeavors. Our vineyard and winemaking philosophy is to seek balance and purity in the expression of our various individual vineyard sites and this philosophy is applied to farming and conservation at ‘Bindi’; the preservation of the natural harmony.
Campbell Mattinson on Bindi “The Bindi farm spans 170ha but only 7ha is planted to vines. This simple fact is an insight into the care and respect the Dhillon family has for its land, its heritage and its future. There are only 2 varieties planted (pinot noir and chardonnay) on the home vineyard, with both long-established for their stellar quality. Bindi is without question among a select few at the top echelon of Australian wine and essentially has been ever since its 1988 plantings first hit their straps.”
Michael Dhillon – Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year 2022
About this wine from the winemaker: “In 1958 Bindi founder Darshan Singh Dhillon came to Australia from Punjab, India, via schooling in Malaysia. Darshan (“Spiritual Vision”) was considered foreign for the times. ‘Bill’ became his name in Australia until he passed in 2013. This atmospheric tribute vineyard (planted 2014 in quartz, sandstone, mudstone and clay with younger volcanic soils) rests alongside the house and winery facing west. It honours Bill, his spiritual vision and gifts to this place, his family and his community.
“Over the first seven vintages, to 2023, we have seen this site produce ethereal wine showing exquisite perfume and spice with a lacey, sinewy, flowing long palate. Darshan , like Original Vineyard, is about perfume and finesse whereas Block 8 and Block 5 share fruit depth and structure in common. The wine spends 15-17 months in French barrels of which about 35% are new. From 2017 onwards we are seeing the wines age gracefully and build earth, texture and intriguing beauty.”
“This is a deeply sentimental wine from a vineyard planted in a time of great emotion. Darshan, an incredibly close planted vineyard (from 11,300 to 22,600 vines per hectare), sits alongside our house and pays tribute to our beautiful mentor and the Bindi founder, Bill Dhillon. The 2017 has a complex array of aromas; wild strawberry, black cherry, dried flowers, leather, a touch of prune. The palate shows the benefit of seven years, for it is silky smooth whilst retaining freshness and energy. The palate is very long and beautifully textured with fine, supple and persistent tannins. The 2017 season was long, cool and fine, as is the wine, showing the elegance of the year. History gives evidence that this 2017 will continue to drink beautifully for half a dozen more years and, when well cellared, beyond.”
95 points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion “The high-density Darshan block was planted in 2014 to 11,300 vines per ha in a 1.1m x 0.8m spacing, Block 8 the same. That’s high-density folks. Despite launching the 2021 vintage a year ago, Michael Dhillon has shifted release dates of some wines, hence this ’17. Perfumed with touches of sumac, musk, joss sticks with rhubarb and cherries. The palate is light/lean-ish, a little sinewy yet layered with tannins and tangy acidity. Not the most complex in the line-up but a thoughtful wine, refreshing and lovely.” June 2024.
RRP $150 Our Special Price $134.99 – EXTREMELY LIMITED
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