First Drop Comes Once more – Connollys Wine

March 19, 2022

A few of chances are you’ll recall from Christmas Tastings earlier than “the occasion” the charming John Gant proudly showcasing the wines made by his son, Matt, within the Barossa as one half of First Drop Wines. The multi-award profitable vineyard hoovers up plaudits and awards with a number of 90+ level scores and appearances on high 100 Aussie wine lists from the likes of Wine Spectator and James Suckling (to the perfect of our data at the very least considered one of their wines has appeared in Matthew Jukes’ annual 100 Greatest Australian Wines Report since 2008).

We will be working a small pre-release supply on high of the brand new cheaper pricing, however portions are restricted and there are rumours that among the workers are feeling very tempted themselves. Minimal order of 6 bottles (could be combined) and deadline of Friday fifth for pre-release pricing. Contact Ed on 0121-236-3837 or ed@connollyswine.co.uk to put your order

*The earlier Fats of the Land we stocked got here from the Greenock Winery

Half & Half Monastrell Shiraz 2014
£12.95, pre-release £11.95

“From three vineyards, two within the Eden Valley, machine-picked, crushed and destemmed, each open and static fermenters used for wild fermentation, 12 days on skins, ferment completed in French hogsheads, matured for 15 months. A medium-bodied mix that does have imprecise Spanish overtones, notably with its mouthfeel (monastrell is mourvedre, aka mataro). It’s in drink-me-soon model, extra relevant to lurid labels on the costliest First Drop labels.”
Halliday Wine Companion 2017

Minchia Adelaide Hills Crimson 2014
£17.95, pre-release £16.50

An Aussie tackle Montepulciano winemaker and proprietor John Retsas describes this as bursting with “Shirazamatazz”…. It’s nevertheless, extremely intense and ought to be in any respect confused with the sunshine to medium bodied acidic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo discovered on the native chain Italian pizza place. Hyper extracted with repeated pumping overs and drain and returns throughout fermentation, after which 20 months in barrel that is an intense darkish ruby learn filled with darkish kirsch and savoury notes on the nostril, with extra succulent darkish cherry and grainy tannins palate. Ed has usually thought this one of many heaviest wines within the store and is extra simply thought, and handled as, an enormous lump of Barossa Shiraz in a elaborate jacket form of wine.

‘Nacional’ Touriga Nacional 2014
£13.95, or £12.50 pre-release

Uncommon to seek out this selection exterior of Portugal, the place it is extra normally discovered as absolutely bodied tannic monster, within the counterintuitive palms of Matt Gant this can be a way more relaxed interpretation. from the Willunga foothills on the southern finish of Maclaren Vale, the cooler maritime vineyards giving a horny nostril filled with crimson plums and a contact of white pepper, with oodles of vivid blueberry and blackberry flavours and surprisingly delicate supple tannins.

Chilly Sweat Moculta Syrah 2015
£29.95 or £27.50 pre-release

“Deep and decadent on the nostril with plum, dried-meat and leather-based aromas. Some tar. Full-bodied but contemporary. Spherical and silky tannins. Juicy end. Tangy acidity. Drink now”
95pts James Suckling
Leaving their dwelling turf of the Barossa and heading north to Eden Valley, this can be a cooler local weather single winery Shiraz. In depth MLF (Maleolactic fermentation) in new oak and 16 growing old on it is lees give it loads of welly. 

Fats of the Land Seppeltsfield Shiraz 2016
£45.00, or £40 pre-release

“One other very ripe shiraz that continues to be engaging and scrumptious. A lot blackberries that it’s virtually exhausting to fathom. Darkish cherry liqueur and darkish plum cake and infusion, too. Sweetly scented milk chocolate all through. Though restrained wouldn’t be the appropriate phrase, that is truly fairly elegant contemplating the fruit and the way it manages to commerce in floral territory between layers of ripe, lithe tannins. A chewy end”
94pts James Suckling (additionally 93 from James Halliday too)
A part of the trio of Barossa vineyards that mix (a la Captain Planet) to kind the long-lasting (and costly “The Cream”), Seppeltsfield lies within the West of the Barossa and produces a touch lighter model of heavyweight Barossa Shiraz. 

Full Fats Crimson 2017
£11.75, £11 pre-release

An intriguing mix of Shiraz, Montepulciano, Cabernet and Touriga Nacional this can be a full flavoured crimson, full of a great deal of berry fruit notes, notably blueberries and darkish cherries, with a finely textured palate of fleshy fuit and mushy cedar tannins with a lifted spicy end.

Mom’s Milk Shiraz 2017
£13.95, or £12.75 pre-release

“Beneficiant, with a plump mixture of huckleberry and blackberry flavors, revealing a touch of inexperienced olive on a dense and juicy body. Notes of black walnut and dried ginger emerge on the supple end. Drink now via 2029”
92pts Wine Spectator (additionally 92pts from Mr Suckling as nicely)
Presumably our total favorite of all of the First Drop wines, the Mom’s Milk Shiraz is what bought us into First Drop originally- all the time beautiful (each classic from 2012 to even 2020 has been rated above 90pts by Wine Spectator). Spending a 15 months in oak it shows it wears the standard jammy weight of fine Barossa calmly, with a splendidly well-balanced contact of acidity, whether or not that is the trace of ‘wombat rolled in all spice’ that First Drop describe it as I am going to go away to you to evaluate….

Full Fats White 2018
£11.75, or £10.50 pre-release

Comprised of grapefruity Arneis, inexperienced apple laden Pinot Grigio, & peachy/melony Chardonnay all harvested at good ripeness. All varieties have been crushed instantly upon arrival on the vineyard, giving various durations of pores and skin contact, earlier than low temperature pure yeast fermentation to protect as a lot contemporary fruit flavours as attainable; 9 months of lees growing old in metal added a splendidly textured mouthfeel leading to an extremely drinkable full flavoured lemon sherbet dominated wine with mouth-watering minerality

Matador Garnacha 2019
£12.95, or £11.95 pre-release

“This has engaging orange-peel and raspberry aromas with some dried flowers, too. The palate has a really polished, mushy mattress of tannin, holding raspberry and red-plum flavours. Very simple really feel with lacy, advantageous tannins. A single parcel within the north of the Barossa Valley. Drink now. Screw cap”
91pts James Suckling

Contact Ed on 0121-236-3837 or ed@connollyswine.co.uk to put your order