Aramis Vineyards
McLaren Vale, Australia

Aramis Vineyards

All fruit for our Single Vineyard range comes from our stunning 64 acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Its unique position, just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent, allows the vines to benefit from a maritime climate with cooling afternoon sea breezes coming in from the south west. These breezes prevent our fruit from over-ripening so that we are able to produce elegant wines that balance rich primary fruit flavours with the characteristic earthiness and minerality associated with the region. The vineyards are planted exclusively with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes – our sole objective is to produce the best possible wines that reflect our unique vineyard site.

  • 2002 – The Inaugural Vintage

    REGION / McLaren Vale

    VARIETAL / 100% Syrah

    ABV / 14%

    WINEMAKER / Scott Rawlinson

    TASTING PROFILE & THE KEY REVIEW / The Governor is our flagship Syrah. Deep purple in colour, it is dense, rich and beautifully focused. On the palate a lavish mouthful of blueberry, blackberry, licorice and pepper flavours balance deftly with vibrant acidity and fine tannins, leading to a long multi-layered finish.

    “The polished, refined 2002 Syrah The Governor reveals a deep ruby/purple colour along with sweet notes of toasty vanillin oak as well as abundant quantities of black raspberry, cassis, licorice and smoke characteristics.. A dense, medium to full-bodied, elegant and beautifully concentrated Syrah.” Robert Parker, 2005

    VINTAGE REPORT / The 2002 vintage in McLaren Vale was considered outstanding for Syrah, despite the coolest summer on record causing lower than average yields. The warm autumn allowed for perfect fruit ripening with intense colour and flavours evident. Early indications were very promising, with excellent flavours, structured tannins and natural acidity making for well-balanced wines with excellent ageing potential.

    WINEMAKING / Winemaking is very traditional and labour intensive. Small batch fermentation took place in open top fermenters, following which the wine was matured for a period of 18 months in a selection of the best French and American oak. It was neither fined nor filtered so that the integrity and depth of flavour could be maintained.

    HERITAGE / All fruit for The Governor comes from a single block on our family-owned 64-acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Our proximity to the ocean (situated just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent) allows our vines to benefit from cooling sea breezes that temper the heat of our Mediterranean climate.

    The Governor block is located at the top of our vineyard, where poor soil and a high clay content combine to limit water retention and allow moisture levels to be controlled through drip irrigation. These are the perfect conditions for the production of top quality Syrah, creating fruit undiluted by water - small and incredibly intense in flavour.

    • Blue Gold Medal / Sydney International Wine Show 06
    • Gold Medal  / Royal Melbourne Wine Show 03
    • Gold Medal / Asian Wine Challenge 03
  • 2003 – The Worthy Challenge

    REGION / McLaren Vale

    VARIETAL / 100% Syrah

    ABV / 14%

    WINEMAKER / Scott Rawlinson

    TASTING PROFILE & KEY REVIEW / The second ever vintage of our flagship Syrah is a brooding and complex wine. Dense fruits of the forest abound, with nuances of mocha and smoky oak revealing themselves on the palate. Its richness and firm tannic structure should allow for extended cellaring.

    “Sexy aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, violet and vanilla custard, complicated by spicy oak. There’s big time oak going on, but also plenty of ripe, luscious dark berry fruit that verges on liqueur-like. Fat, broad and sweet on the finish, the oak spice coming up stroing. There’s clearly great material and sex appeal here…” Stephen Tanzer, 2005

    VINTAGE REPORT / Windy conditions and the worst drought in 100 years brought down potential yields - after the heat, heavy rains in February caused wide-spread berry splitting. Fortunately steady breezes from the Gulf of St Vincent helped to prevent any onset of disease in our vineyard. In the end, despite the lower yield, the fruit showed great flavour intensity and colour, and after time in oak the wines continued to impress well above early assessments. A vintage to watch.

    WINEMAKING / Winemaking is very traditional and labour intensive. Small batch fermentation took place in open top fermenters, following which the wine was matured for a period of 18 months in a selection of the best French and American oak (approx. 35% new). It was neither fined nor filtered so that the integrity and depth of flavour could be maintained.

    HERITAGE / All fruit for The Governor comes from a single block on our family-owned 64-acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Our proximity to the ocean (situated just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent) allows our vines to benefit from cooling sea breezes that temper the heat of our Mediterranean climate.

    The Governor block is located at the top of our vineyard, where poor soil and a high clay content combine to limit water retention and allow moisture levels to be controlled through drip irrigation. These are the perfect conditions for the production of top quality Syrah, creating fruit undiluted by water - small and incredibly intense in flavour.

    • Silver Medal / Royal Sydney Wine Show 03
    • 92 Points / James Halliday Wine Companion 2006
  • 2004 – Vintage of the Decade

    REGION / McLaren Vale

    VARIETAL / 100% Syrah

    ABV / 15%

    WINEMAKER / Scott Rawlinson

    TASTING PROFILE & KEY REVIEW / Highly complex aromas of blackberry, plums, spice and chocolate leading to a rich and succulent palate with well-integrated tannins. Extended bottle age has taken the wine to a higher plane, allowing it to develop succulent secondary characteristics of leather and peppery spice.

    “The deep, crimson-coloured 2004 The Governor shows off a fragrant perfume of spice-box, black pepper, earth notes, mineral and blueberry. Rich and succulent, it has excellent depth, a firm structure, several years of ageing potential, and a fruit-filled finish." Robert Parker, 2009

    VINTAGE REPORT / A top-notch year. Excellent winter and spring rainfalls followed by a warm November resulted in rapid flowering development and near perfect berry-set. January was the coolest in 12 years resulting in a delayed season, but February brought everything back on track with plenty of sunshine hours. Final quantities were above average with strong varietal characters evident. Considered by many to be the vintage of the decade.

    WINEMAKING / Winemaking is very traditional and labour intensive. Small batch fermentation took place in open top fermenters, following which the wine was matured for a period of 18 months in a selection of the best French and American oak (100% new). It was neither fined nor filtered so that the integrity and depth of flavour could be maintained.

    HERITAGE / All fruit for The Governor comes from a single block on our family-owned 64-acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Our proximity to the ocean (situated just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent) allows our vines to benefit from cooling sea breezes that temper the heat of our Mediterranean climate.

    The Governor block is located at the top of our vineyard, where poor soil and a high clay content combine to limit water retention and allow moisture levels to be controlled through drip irrigation. These are the perfect conditions for the production of top quality Syrah, creating fruit undiluted by water - small and incredibly intense in flavour.

    • Gold Medal & Perpetual Trophy / (best wine by a small producer) Sydney Royal Wine Show 07
    • Gold Medal / Royal Adelaide Wine Show 06
  • 2005 – The Winemaker’s Choice

    REGION / McLaren Vale

    VARIETAL / 100% Syrah

    ABV / 15%

    WINEMAKER / Scott Rawlinson

    TASTING PROFILE & KEY REVIEW / Deep purple in colour. The nose shows intense complex cedar, blackberry and blueberry aromas, with a hint of peppery spice. On the palate it develops powerful, full-bodied berry fruit flavours with decidedly funky earthy notes. Restrained tannins and acidity coupled with rich alcohol produces a seamless, velvety, harmonious whole. Winemaker's choice.

    “The 2005… is a saturated purple. It presents an impressive nose of wood smoke, lavender, Asian spices, plums and blueberry that jump from the glass. Layered and opulent on the palate, it has loads of flavor, good balance, and a long fruit-filled finish." Robert Parker, 2009

    VINTAGE REPORT / A good vintage. Winter rains replenished soil moistures and allowed near perfect budburst and flowering. Mild to warm conditions over summer, reminiscent of 2002, with a few days of extreme heat resulted in generally even ripening. Rapid accumulation of sugars meant a short vintage - spectacular levels of flavour and higher than usual alcohol. Yields were down around 15% but the overall assessment was very high.

    WINEMAKING / Winemaking is very traditional and labour intensive. Small batch fermentation took place in open top fermenters, following which the wine was matured for a period of 18 months in a selection of the best French and American oak. It was neither fined nor filtered so that the integrity and depth of flavour could be maintained.

    HERITAGE / All fruit for The Governor comes from a single block on our family-owned 64-acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Our proximity to the ocean (situated just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent) allows our vines to benefit from cooling sea breezes that temper the heat of our Mediterranean climate.

    The Governor block is located at the top of our vineyard, where poor soil and a high clay content combine to limit water retention and allow moisture levels to be controlled through drip irrigation. These are the perfect conditions for the production of top quality Syrah, creating fruit undiluted by water - small and incredibly intense in flavour.

    • Silver (Best In Class) / IWSC 09
    • 94 Points / Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
    • 93 Points / Stephen Tanzer’s IWC 09
  • 2006 – The Here and Now

    REGION / McLaren Vale

    VARIETAL / 100% Syrah

    ABV / 14.5%

    WINEMAKER / Scott Rawlinson

    TASTING PROFILE & THE KEY REVIEW / The Governor is the ultimate expression of our 64 acre vineyard. This wine is rich and expressive, full of intense dark berry fruit and mocha flavours, supported by well-integrated spicy tannins. Extended time in bottle has enhanced its stunning complexity and depth of flavour.

    “Very deep, garnet-purple coloured, revealing pronounced aromas of mulberries, blackberry compote, mocha, damp earth, licorice, Indian spices and a hint of smoky bacon. Full-bodied and generous in the mouth, it is well-structured with very high acidity balancing the rich flesh and medium-fine grainy tannins lending texture. It has a long finish of anise and dark berries. It's delicious now and should continue to cellar to 2020+” Wine Advocate, 2010

    VINTAGE REPORT / The 2006 vintage proved to be one of the most balanced growing seasons of the decade. The ripening process was incredibly even, with the cool, dry summer allowing optimum conditions for flavour development. The resulting wines from our vineyard all displayed excellent character, depth and mouth-feel.

    WINEMAKING / Winemaking is very traditional and labour intensive. Small batch fermentation took place in open top fermenters, spending 10 days on its skins before being racked to oak (88% French, 12% American) The wine was aged in barrel for 18 months before bottling. It was neither fined nor filtered so that the integrity and depth of flavour could be maintained.

    HERITAGE / All fruit for The Governor comes from a single block on our family-owned 64-acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Our proximity to the ocean (situated just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent) allows our vines to benefit from cooling sea breezes that temper the heat of our Mediterranean climate.

    The Governor block is located at the top of our vineyard, where poor soil and a high clay content combine to limit water retention and allow moisture levels to be controlled through drip irrigation. These are the perfect conditions for the production of top quality Syrah, creating fruit undiluted by water - small and incredibly intense in flavor.

    • 92 Points / Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 2010
    • 94 Points / James Halliday's Wine Companion 2009
  • 2007 – Triumph over Adversity

    REGION / McLaren Vale

    VARIETAL / 100% Syrah

    ABV / 15%

    WINEMAKER / Scott Rawlinson

    TASTING PROFILE & KEY REVIEW / This is a wine of great intensity and brooding power. Dark raspberry and blackberry dominate the palate, which opens up to show hints of dark chocolate, licorice and damp earth. Smoky oak and smooth tannins add structure and complexity. Rich and robust.

    “Opaque purple. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of black raspberry and violet gain depth and power with air, taking a turn to deeper blackcurrant and licorice. Spicy, incisive red and dark berry fruit flavours are framed by silky tannins and show a suave floral quality. Finishes with broad, pliant dark fruit flavours, hints of candied flowers and spice cake and impressive persistence." Stephen Tanzer's IWC 2010

    VINTAGE REPORT / Hot and dry weather leading into vintage created rapid ripening conditions, causing some sub-regions of McLaren Vale to have their earliest start to vintage on record. Due to our proximity to the coast with its daily sea breezes (as well as meticulous vineyard management), we were able to harvest a small yet high quality yield of Syrah grapes. Berries were quite small and as yields were down, flavours were highly concentrated.

    WINEMAKING / Winemaking is very traditional and labour intensive. Small batch fermentation took place in open top fermenters, following which the wine was matured for a period of 18 months in a selection of the best French (80%) and American oak. It was neither fined nor filtered so that the integrity and depth of flavour could be maintained.

    HERITAGE / All fruit for The Governor comes from a single block on our family-owned 64-acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Our proximity to the ocean (situated just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent) allows our vines to benefit from cooling sea breezes that temper the heat of our Mediterranean climate.

    The Governor block is located at the top of our vineyard, where poor soil and a high clay content combine to limit water retention and allow moisture levels to be controlled through drip irrigation. These are the perfect conditions for the production of top quality Syrah, creating fruit undiluted by water - small and incredibly intense in flavour.

    • 93 Points / Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 2010
    • 92 Points / Stephen Tanzer's IWC 2010
  • 2008 – The Scorching Summer

    REGION / McLaren Vale

    VARIETAL / 100% Syrah

    ABV / 14.5%

    WINEMAKER / Scott Rawlinson

    TASTING PROFILE & KEY REVIEW / A rich and intense power-house, with a compelling depth of flavour and a long, unctuous finish. Essence of blackberry and ripe plum fruit abound, giving way to undercurrents of powdered chocolate, charcuterie and licorice. Smoky oak and fine-grained tannins provide depth and structure, and enhance the ageing potential of this sumptuous wine.

    “Rich and full-bodied, but with more facets than the Black Label; oak plays an obvious role and the tannins are finer; blackberry fruit does have some chocolate, but not to the extent of the Black Label. Excellent achievement for the vintage." James Halliday’s Wine Companion 2011

    VINTAGE REPORT / Optimum spring conditions had left McLaren Vale anticipating the perfect vintage, however a hot burst at the start of January brought about an early onset to vintage at the beginning of February. Fortunately a run of consistent daytime temperatures and cooler evenings through mid January to early Feb resulted in fruit achieving optimum flavour and tannin ripeness, and all fruit was safely harvested before the damaging heatwave of March.

    WINEMAKING / Winemaking is very traditional and labour intensive. Small batch fermentation took place in open top fermenters, following which the wine was matured for a period of 18 months in a selection of the best French (85%) and American oak, a total of 28% of which was new. It was neither fined nor filtered so that the integrity and depth of flavour could be maintained.

    HERITAGE / All fruit for The Governor comes from a single block on our family-owned 64-acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Our proximity to the ocean (situated just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent) allows our vines to benefit from cooling sea breezes that temper the heat of our Mediterranean climate.

    The Governor block is located at the top of our vineyard, where poor soil and a high clay content combine to limit water retention and allow moisture levels to be controlled through drip irrigation. These are the perfect conditions for the production of top quality Syrah, creating fruit undiluted by water - small and incredibly intense in flavour.

    • 95 Points / JAMES HALLIDAY’S WINE COMPANION 2011
  • 2014 White Label Cabernet Sauvignon

    TASTING NOTE / This Cabernet from our McLaren Vale family ineyard is one for the purists – elegant, structured and with great finesse. Concentrated dark berry fruit and liquorice flavours are beautifully balanced with firm tannins and subtle smoky notes, leading to a smooth yet savoury finish.

    VARIETAL / Cabernet Sauvignon

    VINTAGE / 2014

    REGION / McLaren Vale

    ALC/VOL / 14.5%

    WINEMAKER / Scott Rawlinson

    OUR VINEYARDS / All fruit for our White Label reds comes from our stunning 64 acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Its unique position, just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent, allows the vines to benefit from a maritime climate with cooling afternoon sea breezes coming in from the south west. These breezes prevent our fruit from over-ripening so that we are able to produce elegant wines that balance rich primary fruit flavours with the characteristic earthiness and minerality associated with the region. The vineyards are planted exclusively with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes – our sole objective is to produce the best possible wines that reflect our unique vineyard site.

    WINEMAKING NOTES / At flavour and tannin ripeness, the grapes were harvested and crushed. After 7 gentle days on skins the free run fraction was run off, and the skins were carefully pressed. The free run and pressing fractions were then combined. After 24 hours the wine was racked to a mixture of French oak barrels and tanks, where it was matured for 18 months.

    VINTAGE OVERVIEW / A heat-wave in early January had us thinging it would be a very early vintage, but it was swiftly followed by welcome rain to freshen the canopies. The rest of January and February was quite mild, slowing ripening a little and allowing for greater flavour development. Harvest started earlier than normal, crops were a little below average given the overall dryness of the season, and quality is considered good.

  • 2014 White Label Shiraz

    TASTING NOTE / This Cabernet from our McLaren Vale family ineyard is one for the purists – elegant, structured and with great finesse. Concentrated dark berry fruit and liquorice flavours are beautifully balanced with firm tannins and subtle smoky notes, leading to a smooth yet savoury finish.

    VARIETAL / Shiraz

    VINTAGE / 2014

    REGION / McLaren Vale

    ALC/VOL / 14.5%

    WINEMAKER / Scott Rawlinson

    OUR VINEYARDS / All fruit for our White Label reds comes from our stunning 64 acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Its unique position, just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent, allows the vines to benefit from a maritime climate with cooling afternoon sea breezes coming in from the south west. These breezes prevent our fruit from over-ripening so that we are able to produce elegant wines that balance rich primary fruit flavours with the characteristic earthiness and minerality associated with the region. The vineyards are planted exclusively with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes – our sole objective is to produce the best possible wines that reflect our unique vineyard site.

    WINEMAKING NOTES / At flavour and tannin ripeness, the grapes were harvested and crushed. After 7 gentle days on skins the free run fraction was run off, and the skins were carefully pressed. The free run and pressing fractions were then combined. After 24 hours the wine was racked to a mixture of French oak barrels and tanks, where it was matured for 18 months. The final blend was assembled in December 2015, comprising wine from different parts of the estate to create a complex and balanced Shiraz.

    VINTAGE OVERVIEW / A heat-wave in early January had us thinging it would be a very early vintage, but it was swiftly followed by welcome rain to freshen the canopies. The rest of January and February was quite mild, slowing ripening a little and allowing for greater flavour development. Harvest started earlier than normal, crops were a little below average given the overall dryness of the season, and quality is considered good.

  • Our Single Vineyard Shiraz

    TASTING NOTE / Our Single Vineyard Shiraz is a pure expression of our unique McLaren Vale site - an ethereal wine of both poise and power. After spending nearly two years in French oak barrels it has developed considerable complexity with a tantalising balance of opulent fruit and savoury notes. Heady aromas of blackberry and chocolate are underpinned by subtle mocha, violet and earthy characters, along with structured, fine-grained tannins. Enjoy now or, if you can bear to wait, for many years to come.

    VARIETAL / Shiraz

    VINTAGE / 2014

    REGION / McLaren Vale

    ALC/VOL / 14.5%

    WINEMAKER / Scott Rawlinson

    WINEMAKING NOTES / Our Single Vineyard wines are made using traditional labour-intensive methods. The 2013 Shiraz was matured for a period of 22 months in fine-grained French oak barrels (40% new) prior to blending and bottling. The wine is neither fined nor filtered so that the integrity and unique flavour profile of the Shiraz may shine through.

    OUR VINEYARDS / All fruit for our Single Vineyard range comes from our stunning 64 acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Its unique position, just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent, allows the vines to benefit from a maritime climate with cooling afternoon sea breezes coming in from the south west. These breezes prevent our fruit from over-ripening so that we are able to produce elegant wines that balance rich primary fruit flavours with the characteristic earthiness and minerality associated with the region.

    VINTAGE OVERVIEW / A heat-wave in early January had us thinging it would be a very early vintage, but it was swiftly followed by welcome rain to freshen the canopies. The rest of January and February was quite mild, slowing ripening a little and allowing for greater flavour development. Harvest started earlier than normal, crops were a little below average given the overall dryness of the season, and quality is considered good.

    ACCOLADES / 95 Points – James Halliday’s Wine Companion 2017
    “Interesting that Aramis crafts separate cuvees utilising 'shiraz' and 'syrah'. Both are exemplary examples of tannin management and freshness, with no structural pillar overdone be it through extraction, oak or other tweaking in the winery. This, the softer of the two as the name 'shiraz' usually infers, is a billowing pillow of dark plum, cherry, anise and mace, ever so gently massaging the cheeks and roof of the mouth. The supports are such that the wine will age well.”