Our Wines
Lion Mill wines are produced from hand picked fruit grown on the property. A constant is the care and time we commit to our viticulture. Our small size enables us to spend a great deal more time in the vineyard; probably much more than is economically justifiable and certainly more than in other situations where wine comes from grapes grown and processed under what are basically large scale industrial processes. However, the time we spend on tasks like hand pruning, shoot thinning and fruit thinning enable us to ensure that the grapes are given the best opportunity to express their varietal characters. Yet, each vintage is different for us, for our fruit always reflects something of the factors over which we have no control: variations in each season and our terroir.
Of course, our labour in the vineyard is only part of the story for we rely on the skill and fine judgement of our winemakers to give expression to the work we have put in with the vines. In this respect we are fortunate in having Josh and Rachael Davenport at Myattsfield Vineyard and Winery as our winemakers. Their attention to detail and the high standard of their work ensures a premium quality product enjoyed by wine enthusiasts and praised by wine judges. You can read more about them in Max Allen’s book, The Future Makers.
Ultimately, the quality of the wines is a combination of all these factors: our commitment to excellence in viticultural practice, the close attention to detail that can only come from long hours spent in the vineyard, and the excellence in winemaking that the Davenports bring to their craft. Naturally, we ensure that they are supported in their efforts by supplying high quality French, American and Hungarian oak.
We produce both red and white wines. Our reds include Shiraz, a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot blend, and a highly regarded Zinfandel. Our “Reserve” blend has been outstanding and always worthy of extended cellaring. The winemakers have also crafted a wonderful blanc de blancs by the traditional method, an award winning barrel fermented and oak aged Semillon, an easy drinking Classic White, a Rosè, and a luscious cane cut, dessert Semillon. As well, we have a Sparkling Shiraz (again produced by traditional method) and a vintage fortified.
Sparkling Wines
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Lion Mill blanc de blancs, 2008
Bronze medal, 2009 Perth Hills Wine Show
A pleasingly dry sparkling chardonnay made using traditional method. Pears and citrus fruits feature on both the nose and palate of this lovely wine .
Alcohol/vol: 12.5%; approximately 7.4 std drinks.
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Lion Mill Sparkling Shiraz, 2008
Bronze medal, 2009 Perth Hills Wine Show
A delicious, slightly dry example of this Australian classic having a youthful purple mousse and medium hue. Combines plummy ruits with wonderful spices and a ripe, warm palate in a wine with a clean refreshing finish. Again, this wine has been made according to the traditional method.
Alcohol/vol: 12.9%; approximately 7.6 std drinks
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Table Wines
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Lion Mill Semillon, 2007
Silver medal, 2007 Perth Hills Wine Show
This wine, barrel fermented in new French hogsheads, has a lovely straw colour and displays aromas of aroma: straw, canned pineapple and desiccated coconut. On the palate are flavours of lime cordial and grapefruit with oak sweetness.
A wine that will continue to develop with ageing.
Alcohol/vol: 12.3%; approximately 7.2 std drinks
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Lion Mill Classic White 2009
A blend of Chardonnay and Semillon, this easy drinking wine has pleasant fruit characters and a crisp finish.
Alcohol/vol: 12.7%; approximately 7.5 std drinks
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Lion Mill Rosè, 2010
(Bronze medal, 2008 Perth Hills Wine Show)
The colour of this wine is vibrant pink with a violet hue. Lifted aromas of raspberry, strawberry and intense rose petals greet the nose. The soft, broad palate displays characters of raspberry cordial with a crisp refreshing finish
Alcohol/vol: 13.0%; approximately 7.7 std drinks
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Lion Mill Shiraz, 2008
Bronze medal, 2010 Perth Hills Wine Show
Displaying a vibrant ruby hue, the 2008 Shiraz brings to the nose savoury, dusty, spicy aromas with hints of white pepper. It has a spicy palate, again with hints of white pepper and dark cherries.
Alcohol/vol: 13.5%; approximately 8 std drinks
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Lion Mill Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, 2008
Bronze medal, 2009 Perth Hills Wine Show
The colour of this wine is a vibrant ruby hue and the aroma is of lifted cherry and strawberry jam. It has a soft palate with dark cherry earthiness and tea leaves.
Alcohol/vol: 13.9%; approximately 8.2 std drinks
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Reserve Wines
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Lion Mill Reserve Shiraz, 2007
Made from selected parcels of our best fruit in 2007, this wine displays lifted and complex aromas of bramble, blackberry, forest floor with hints of smoky cedar and cinnamon, The full bodied, firm structured palate displays red juicy fruit characters.
While this is a wine that can be drunk now, it is also one that will cellar well.
Alcohol/vol: 13.8%; approximately 8.1 std drinks.
Enquire about stock and pricing
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Lion Mill Home Block Reserve, 2007
Gold medal, 2009 Perth Hills Wine Show
(Cabernet 82%; Shiraz 18%)
We carefully selected the small parcels of 2007 fruit from the Home Block for this special wine. The result is a wine exhibiting lifted aromas of blood plum, mulberry, tea leaf and spicy oak. The full bodied palate displays rich black fruits, firm chunky tannins and a dusty finish.
This reserve will certainly reward careful cellaring.
Alcohol/vol: 13.7%; approximately 8.1 std drinks
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Lion Mill Zinfandel, 2009
Our 2007 Zinfandel which was voted “Best of the West” in its class by Winestate Magazine (2008) and our 2008 vintage displayed the same rich style. The 2009 vintage is more restrained yet well representative of the variety. Ruby red in colour. A lifted spicy cedar and vanillan oak nose with subtle plum aromas. The palate is full bodied and structured displaying spicy cedar and juicy red berry flavours. Firm dusty tannins contribute to a lengthy warming finish.
Alcohol/vol: 14.5%; approximately 8.6 std drinks
The 2007 and 2008 Vintages are sold out but we have retained some museum stock for a planned 5 year vertical tasting after the 2011 vintage is bottled. If you are interested, email your details and we will keep you posted.
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Dessert/Fortified
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Cane Cut Semillon, 2010
Medium straw in colour, this is a luscious dessert style wine with a sweet, luxurious palate and an intense ripe fruit bouquet. The wine is produced from late harvested grapes, with a further portion (approximately 45%) coming from canes that have been cut to concentrate fruit sugar.
Alcohol/vol: 12%; approximately 4.7 std drinks (500 ml)
A small amount of the 2009 vintage remains in stock.
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Ruby, 2008
In deference to the Portuguese, we now use the term fortified for wines that formerly were known as ports. Ours is a wonderful example of the ruby style, exhibiting the luscious flavours and rich, deep ruby colouring of a young cabernet based wine.
Alcohol/vol: 19%; approximately 7.5 std drinks (500 ml)
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