Welcome to Dott., the new small-batch handmade wines from the Chalmers family’s estate-grown fruit. It is inspired by the late Dr. Rod Bonfiglioli, a passionate, eccentric scientist whose dogged determination and visionary foresight brought so much colour, interest and integrity to Australian wine.
“He sought out these rare grapes for our collection, seeing their promise long before we did, ” says Kim Chalmers, “and for that we are grateful.”
The choice of grape varieties in the Dott. range challenges the concept of homoclimes as the most beneficial place to establish grape varieties in new locations. “Through years of open-minded experimentation, we’ve learned that sometimes translating a grapevine to a new environment can give surprising and beautiful results, often producing a wine which is truly unique from its ancestors in Europe, yet still achieving quality and authenticity,” continues Kim. “It’s a new expression; a truly Australian wine which speaks of its own place and time.”
The Dott. range encapsulates this idea, growing grapes that originate in the continental northeast of Italy in the inland dry climate and red, mineral rich soils of northern Heathcote. Dr. Rod would have said if you do the research diligently and analyse the results objectively, you can ignore the rule book and forge new ground.
Forge ahead with these three beauties from Heathcote’s harvest of 2017.
THE WINES – All are RRP $31 for a 500ml bottle & RRP $93 for a magnum.
MALVASIA ISTRIANA
2017 Malvasia Istriana is golden straw coloured and has delicate spiced apple, lemon and hay aromas with a crisp, mineral palate of fresh red apple, fine structure and pleasant acidity.
PAVANA
The garnet coloured 2017 Pavana has intense fragrance of fresh wild raspberry and Darjeeling tea leaves with a light, vibrant palate of rhubarb, rosehip and geranium with subtle tannin structure around a long acid line.
SCHIOPPETTINO
The 2017 Schioppettino is bursting with white pepper and Dutch speculaas spice aromas with a hint of jasmine and woodsy notes. The medium bodied palate reiterates the anise, cinnamon and cardamom spices with cedar oil and Davidson plum flavours supported