News
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Monty's Wine Wall
Fun fact!
We have over 200 hundred wines available buy the bottle for drink in or takeaway at our neighbour wine bar. From high quality high value cost-of-living 'busters' through to some of the genuine superstars of the Australian market.
Looking for Rockford, Cullen, Yeringberg, Mosswood, Wild Duck Creek, Bindi, Noon, Koomilya, Wantirna Estate, Bass Phillip, Wynns back vintages? We've got em and all at drink-in prices we honestly believe are the sharpest in Melbourne (no BS!).
Where? The Grape & Hop Wine Bar
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On The Tasting Bench - May 8th 2026
Bindi 'Pyrette' Heathcote Shiraz 2023 $39
Been a while between drinks on this one. Medium climate style with dark fruits and pepper edges. Smooth palate but no means a crowd pleaser style, rather a 'thinking' style. Feels young. Some mild reductive and Northern Rhone notes. Not unlike the POCW JV with Graillot.
Mandurang 'Old Vine' Red Blend 2020
A very pleasant re-visit of some bottles from a winery we regularly stocked back in the Cloudwine days ~20 years ago. Super low profile but a veteren of Bendigo with the first vines having been planted 50yrs ago. Old for 'modern' Bendigo! Gee I was suduced here. Uber fresh and massive primary fruit load but you can't help but be sucked in. Seems Cab dominant with some grainy fruit but lashings of juicy suggest Shiraz at play. Never gets heavy. We will be stocking this, and others from Mandurang, for sure.
Mandurang GSM 2020
Like the other Mandurang vintages from 2020 this is very good. Seemingly plush early but lines of mild astringency and acid kick in to keep things sharpish. GSM really has no track record, of note, in Victoria, so this one really stands out. I've been asleep at the wheel with this quite achiever from Bendigo.
Koonunga Hill Shiraz 2024
Forgive me!! Talk about a wine that's hard to fault. Plushy fruited, balanced and absolutely no hard edges. No need to cellar but that was/is never the point. Best sub $15 red I've had in some time!
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Marc Bredif Vouvray - 10 Vintages Now Available Online!
Without doubt Marc Bredif's 'Classic' Vouvray Chenin Blanc is one of my all time favourite whites. It was the first wine I ever tried over 50yrs of age (the 1959) and I have enjoyed vintages from the 70s and 80s over the years. We have assembled 10 different vintages (2006 through to 2024) and these are available for purchase via the Good Soul Wines website. All things considered these wines are remarkable value.We also have each vintage available at our neighbourhood wine bar (The Grape & Hop in Montmorency) via drink in bottles or takeaway. We will honour the online price for takeaways.Great article from Huon Hooke regarding super old Vouvray here.FWIW here are some of my notes on a number of older vintages:2020 - "An easy drinker at 6 years of age. In some respects quite a simple wine; front loaded with (nearly) off-dry fruits and low acid impact, at least to my tastes. Tails off but is ultra pleasant drinking." (April 2026)
2019 - "Remains, undoubtedly, one of my favourite all time white wines. I’m not full bottle on the “classic” tag but I do know this is super likeable as a youngster. Nothing jumps out; rather a proper sum-of-the-parts job. Soft lemon early but does get darker but never hard." (Sept 2021)
1986 - "A classic 'eye opener' wine. Massively interesting nose with truckloads of bitter forest fruits and varnish (the latter in the best possible way), and throw in some old furniture store aromas as well! Very authoritative. Spicy aged fruits to taste; clean flavours and good drive." (Dec 2007)
1959 - "Oldest wine I have consumed to date. Intriguing nose of sweetbreads and heaps of old lemons and daggy old fruits. Old wood too. Lots happening. Palate shows incredibly fresh fruit and weight. Lemons and citrus, some bitter fruit. Amazing depth of fruit for the age. In supurb condition and currently available in Australia through the official importer so highly likely to have only recently been released from the winery's cellars (fresh label)." (May 2009) -
First Looks - April 22nd 2026
The Next Hundred 100yrs Riesling 2024 $38
A single site Riesling from the Frankland River region. Was immediately impressive when we tasted recently - controlled acid and balanced fruits, savoury hints and excellent length. Yet another wine from this region that proves just how good the broader Great Southern GI is for Riesling.
Turon Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris 2025 $30
Best Oz Gris I've had for some time. Smart, mostly dry, good depth in the palate. Very serious style for Australia. Not fruity when compared to the likes of Mornington Peninsula examples, rather this is very textual.
"It does justice to the naming of 'pinot gris' with its Alsace bent of slippery texture, fleshy pear characters and adornment of sweet spices. A plush feel but controlled with chalky edges and a tight, squeaky finish. Balanced, refreshing and spot on." 93pts
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From the Cellar April 22nd 2026
Vinea Marson Nebbilo 2013 (Heathcote)
TBH I don't as excited now about Marson wines as I used. Typically built to age but the fruit can fade a little quicker than expected. That said, the Italian varietals are nearly always quite authentic from an old world perspective. This vintage was full bodied and fruit forward,. relative to the style, on night 1. Almost ripe pinot-like and not massively tannic. Good going for 13yrs however.
Hickinbotham 'The Revivalist' Merlot 2015 (McLaren Vale)
I imagine this wine would have reasonable claims as to the leading Merlot from McLaren Vale. Better than the previous tasting but still plays unders at the price. Core of plummy fruit, with dark streaks, remains in good form for an 11yr old. A little astringency but softened on night 3. Not bad all things considered.
Tahbilk 'Old Vines' Cabernet Shiraz 2012 (Nagambie Lakes)
IMHO Cabernet is the poster child at Tahbilk, not Shiraz, The 2012 is not to the high standard of recent 'Old Vines' releases but still very handy. Points to the house Shiraz style (at least pre 2020) with controlled fruits, minerals and blood. Some Rhone hints here. Nice acid lines keeps the palate on track. Looking good for a 14yr old but below my lofty expectations. Got a few years left at least.
Bekkers Grenache 2016
My South Australian 'find' of the past 2yrs, Bekkers has rapidly and confidently positioned itself at the top level of the totem pole in McLaren Vale. A very worthy follow-up to previous tasting. More mid weight than intense but no lack of class and intensity. Game, somemy funky, supreme control through the palate. Earthy fruits. At its peak. Best Oz Grenache I've had?