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Dhillon 'Accidental Red' Merlot Blend 2025
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- TASTING NOTE: The red cherry juice and stone aromas mix with blueberry depth. Violet and subtle brown spice add gentle complexity. The palate is supple in a mid-weight Pinot-like way with freshness and fine tannins giving a clean, smooth finish. It drinks well now and will drink well for half a dozen years. Bindi
- ABOUT THE WINE: "The Accidental Red came about in 2022 by…..unforeseen opportunity…..by accident! The Merlot being pressed for Rosé had too much juice remaining to discard to compost and the Shiraz pressings had too much colour for Rosé so in they went together. From 2023 we decided to make the Accidental Red deliberately and to make it better. Merlot berries are fermented with pressed out Shiraz juice, so in effect there is half the amount of skins for the wine volume. A relatively quick wild yeast fermentation (limiting the time on skins) then into barrel for malolactic and six months maturing through the winter. This Red is from premium Macedon Ranges fruit and comes in as a bright, chillable, quaffable, deliberately inexpensive wine.
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ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Bindi, located in the Macedon Ranges, is the Dhillon family estate, purchased in the 1950s. Covering 170 hectares, it includes 7 hectares of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines, with the rest dedicated to eucalypt plantations, native bushland, and indigenous grasslands—a reflection of the Dhillon commitment to sustainable farming and landscape conservation. The vineyards are situated about 500 meters above sea level on soils rich in shattered quartz, siltstone, sandstone, and clay, with patches of eroded volcanic topsoil. Hand-managed since its establishment, Bindi’s vineyards have incorporated organic practices since 2005, including compost fertilization, under-vine cultivation, and soil aeration. The winemaking approach emphasizes the distinct characteristics of each vineyard, with typical yields of 1.5 to 2 tones per acre (3.5 to 5 tons per hectare) and an annual production of 1,800 to 3,000 dozen bottles. Michael Dhillon, born and raised at Bindi, apprenticed with Stuart Anderson from 1991 until taking over as winemaker in 1998. His expertise was further enriched by vintages with Jean Vesselle in Champagne, Alain Graillot in Crozes-Hermitage, four vintages in Tuscany at Tenuta di Valgiano, and three vintages with John Wade at Howard Park Winery in the mid-1990s. Driven by a passion for Burgundy, Michael has also visited over 100 domains across two decades.
- COUNTRY: Australia
- REGION: Heathcote
- VARIETAL: Merlot, Shiraz, Malbec
- WINE STYLE: Red Wine | Chilled
- WINEMAKER: Michael Dhillon
- CLASSIFICATION: Minimal Intervention Sustainable Farming | Vegan
- CLOSURE: Screwcap
- ABV%: 13.5
- SIZE: 750ml
