20 years ago, a lightbulb moment resulted in the creation of RedHeads by Tony and Tom Laithwaite. It was a no-gimmicks, no-rules cellar where young, talented (and rebellious) winemakers could moonlight and make small-batch wines that really rocked their boat. Growers started bringing in pick-up loads of their best grapes they wanted 'rescuing' from the mega-blends.
RedHeads winemakers began to gain a reputation as the ‘Robinhood of grapes’ – saving parcels to make into handcrafted wines. So popular, the cellar outgrew its original home and, for a few years, it moved from shed to shed. Finally it bought its own vineyard and built a state-of-the-art, off-grid, solar-powered eco winery. RedHeads by name, green by nature, with awards galore.
What RedHeads does best – searches out small parcels of fabulous quality grapes, brimful of flavour. Then they blend them, bit by bit, to handcraft a wine with abundant character and plenty of stylish panache. Our winemaker spotted these two unusual Spaniards on the Rocca's small family property in One Tree Hill, a tiny hamlet between the Barossa and Adelaide Hills. Not quite in the elevated part, it gets quite warm during the day, but there’s a cool draught from the Hills at night, which slows ripening and explains the amazing deep crimson hue of Vin’atus. Hand picked, destemmed and hand plunged (with effort!), and vinified in our traditional open-top fermenters, this is a hefty red, but velvet smooth. Ideal with lamb or rich bean stew.
There's no doubt about it, Big Mac McPherson makes a mean, BIG red - indeed, he's been making some of our popular weighty Australians for years. He's passed this skill on to his son Angus, as well as a bug for travelling. Angus, like his dad did before him, has been gaining experience around the world, but has recently returned to the cellar, keen to show his worth.
Believing the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, Angus has blended this gobstopper red from Bordeaux's Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It has lovely, dark fruity appeal, with plenty of spice from the Petit Verdot and juicy plummy Merlot filling it out. A touch of firmness makes it great with food. Decant The Angus and serve with slow cooked lamb or rare roast beef.
only 11 left
only 12 left
RedHeads is Aussie rebels leading the field! From the get-go, they've made small-volume, handcrafted wines from 'rescued' grapes. This is a cracker – Barossa, Clare, McLaren and Langhorne Creek. A palate-punching Shiraz.
