Pondalowie

The Pondalowie vineyards at Bridgewater on Loddon in Central Victoria, situated in the Bendigo region were planted in the mid-90's. Established by Dominic and Krystina Morris with particular wines and wine styles in mind. Their vision dictated the percentage of each vineyard planted to Shiraz, Tempranillo, Cabernet, Malbec and Viognier. The winery is named Pondalowie after the special place where they decided to turn their dream into reality. Pondalowie have taken an impressive number of international awards, cementing their reputation as a leading producer.

An impressive winemaking team, Dominic and Krystina Morris have spent years working consecutive vintages in Australia and Europe.

Both bring to Pondalowie unique skills and experiences gained from their strong wine-industry backgrounds. Krystina has a degree in Oenology from Adelaide University and has worked as a winemaker in the Barossa and McLaren Vale, as well as throughout regions of Portugal. Dominic has done numerous vintages in Australian, France and Portugal and still flies to Portugal three times a year. When the Douro Valley winery Dominic worked for won International Red Wine of the Year for their 1995 Douro Red, Dominic was invited to stay on and continue as their winemaker. Their passion for making interesting, premium red wines is ever present in every glass you drink.

Pondalowie has wowed us within past couple of years with a bevy of impressive red wines. Tempranillo, bottlings of Shiraz, reserve Shiraz and Shiraz Viognier, the MT unoaked Tempranillo, and the vineyard blend of Shiraz, Cabernet are all Highly drinkable. The Tempranillo and various "Special Release" wines of which the Petite Sirah is one are incredibly age worthy. Their hallmarks are deep, rich colours; lively acids and ripe fruit (nor unbalanced alcohol); soft, supple tannins and generosity of flavour. Try all of these wines at Armadale Cellars.

The Wines

MT UNWOODED TEMPRANILLO named this wine 'MT' as a tribute to the expression 'Minha Terra', a term used by Quinta do Crasto winery workers when describing the place that is their home or where they come from. This seemed appropriate for a wine that is a unwooded expression of the Tempranillo variety grown at our home, Bridgewater on Loddon. Aromas of cherries, raspberry, cola, leafy tobacco and mineral characters precede a palate rich with soft red berry, cherry fruits and earthiness. Although unwooded, it is medium bodied and has natural, fresh chalky tannins and great length. Serve this wine slightly chilled on a hot summers day or enjoy anytime with tapas.

'VINEYARD BLEND' SHIRAZ, CABERNET & TEMPRANILLO A spin on the traditional Australian blend of Shiraz and Cabernet, this wine is created by harvesting the three varieties at the same time then co-fermenting them. The combination is fascinating and very drinkable! Lifted aromas of dark cherries and raspberries, cinnamon, nutmeg and subtle toasty oak intensify on the soft, rounded palate that is in great balance with its lingering finish. Enjoy this wine with a gourmet pizza or anti-pasto of chorizio, olives, parma ham and shavings of parmasan. Drink now or cellar for up to 5 years.

SHIRAZ This wine will please any lover of pure Shiraz. Intense aromas of blood plums, blackberries and wild forest fruits with toasty vanillin, cedar and cigar-box oak derived from the wine's maturation in French and American oak hogsheads. The palate is rich and complex with lovely integration between the intense dark fruit flavours and fine-grained oak. This wine would complement a char-grilled Porterhouse steak, accompanied by caramelised onions and roast potatoes. Easily enjoyed now but will develop and age gracefully over the next 10 years.

SHIRAZ VIOGNIER We just love how the addition of up to 5% Viognier creates elegance and seductiveness on the aroma and transforms the tannins to silk without compromising any of the full-bodied power and rich blackberry, dark cherry fruits and complex spices of the Shiraz. This wine has fantastic palate structure, balance and length and is matured in older oak barrels to retain the wines rich fruit concentration. This rich but elegant wine suits roast lamb, infused with dried apricots, thyme and garlic or a dish of simply sautéed field mushrooms. Enjoyable now but it will develop and age gracefully over the next 10 years.

"Shiraz Viognier is sheer class, with silky tannins and superb balance!" -Sydney Morning Herald,

"Elegant, a multitude of flavours neatly woven into a harmonious whole. Simply delicious!" -James Halliday

THE 'SPECIAL RELEASE' (SR) LABELS… The winery introduced the 'Special Release' label into our range so that they could release, as an individual wine, any parcel of wine that really 'stood out from the crowd' during the winemaking process. This may not happen every year and it may not always be the same variety. In 2002 it was a Cabernet, in 2003 we had two; a Shiraz and oaked Tempranillo. Pondalowie are extremely proud to present their Special Release wines as they represent the best of the vintage year from their vineyard and winery.

(SR) SHIRAZ Complex blend of blackberry and blood plum fruit flavours, spice, dark chocolate and a faint hint of mint, typical of the Bendigo region. Rich and opulent, a world class Shiraz. Layer upon layer of intense dark berry fruits, licorice and tarry spices, balanced with supple oak and fine grained tannins. Incredible balance and length on the palate. Drink this wine now with eye fillet if you love big, complex reds or allow it to develop and age gracefully over the next 15 years.

(SR) CABERNET MALBEC The arduous task of hand picking the small tight bunches of Malbec from the half-acre block, is justified by the concentrated mulberry fruit flavours and rich palate weight that they contribute to this blend. Fresh inviting aromas of mulberries, roasted capsicum, dried herb and toasty cigar-box oak precede a full-bodied palate rich in sweet mulberry and black plum fruits, spices, chocolate and cedar oak flavours with chalky tannins. A rich veal stew, full of mushrooms and root vegetables, would match this wine perfectly. It will continue to improve over the next 10 years in a cool cellar.

2006 (SR) PETITE SIRAH is a special release from a single vineyard in Central Victoria. In the glass it is intense purple colour with blue hues. To the nose, leaps aromas of redgum sawdust, cassis, earth and crushed ants. Wow such power! Mouthfeel is amazing with richness from start to finish; concentrated dark fruits, Chinese five spices, Brazil nuts and coffee and a set of silky tannins that make this and ideal wine for cellaring. This is the wine for all occasions. Serving suggestions would be beef Rendang, Char grilled Eggplant salad with baby beets and a balsamic reduction, Korean pork spare ribs, Bangers and Mash, Eat, drink and be merry. If you wish too know more about Petite Sirah click here.

The Penguin good Australian wine guide 2007

"BEST NEW PRODUCER - PONDALOWIE"

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition

"5 *****Stars = outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity." Only 6.5% of Australian wineries reviewed received this top rating".