As Richard Hamilton McLaren Vale enters its 50th year and the Hamilton Family business enjoys 184 years of continuous winemaking and grape growing, the family is celebrating with a fresh new look for its Estate Range.

The Richard Hamilton Estate Range has taken the family’s link to history, simplified it and modernised it, creating a vibrant and contemporary range of wines adorned with stylised roses, rosettes.

The Hamilton family was one of the first families of the South Australian wine industry. The late Richard Hamilton (Dr Richard Hamilton’s great-great-grandfather) arrived in 1837 and planted some of the first wine producing vineyards on the Adelaide plains. Today, Dr Hamilton and his wife and co-owner Jette are at the helm.

Roses are an integral part to wine grape growing and are prevalent right across South Australia, however they have a particular significance to Richard Hamiton McLaren Vale where extensive rose gardens surround their vineyards and Cellar Door. The Rosette series celebrates the family’s long standing in the South Australian wine industry.

Bringing the rose to life in an illustrative way on the labels links the labels to a sense of place at the home in McLaren Vale and the design was created to appeal to the younger wine drinking demographic who visit the McLaren Vale region.

The range consists of seven wines, including:

2020 ‘Little Road’ Shiraz, McLaren Vale

Made from estate grown fruit, the focus for this wine was to have vibrancy of fruit on the nose and palate. With lower yields in 2020, the result is medium to full bodied with satsuma plum aromas, hints of black pepper and subtle cedar notes from oak maturation. A flavoursome and elegant wine.

2019 ‘Hut Block’ Cabernet Sauvignon – McLaren Vale

The Hut Block vineyard is adjacent to the Cellar Door and consistently delivers award-winning wines making this our unsung hero. A rich and full-bodied wine with ripe cassis, plum and chocolate notes complemented by well-integrated cedar notes from predominantly seasoned French oak.

2021 ‘Les Collinnes’ Pinot Gris – Adelaide Hills

The cool, neighbouring region of the Adelaide Hills is renowned for producing fine, elegant wines. This year the grapes ripened slowly and had developed quite a pink tinge which was captured by giving the grapes 24 hours of contact with skins. The result, blush in colour, medium body with pear, honey and rose characters.

For Paul Gordon, Richard Hamilton’s Chief Winemaker, this contemporary label has brought new life to the pack but also given him license to modernise wine styles:

“The Rosette Series' wine styles are made to appeal to a slightly younger audience than our Single Vineyard range. While many will age gracefully, they are made to drink within a few months of bottling. The Pinot Gris, we made with colour in mind as well as flavour and has a beautiful blush colour. The Shiraz was made to have a vibrancy of fruit flavours and the quality of the finished wine from the Cabernet from the Hut block continues to amaze me. It really is one of the best wines in the range.”

The full Rosette Series incudes;

  • The Hills Sauvignon Blanc – Adelaide Hills RRP $24
  • Les Collinnes Pinot Gris – Adelaide Hills RRP $24
  • Almond Grove Chardonnay – McLaren Vale RRP $24
  • Lot 148 Merlot – McLaren Vale RRP $26
  • Colton’s GSM – McLaren Vale RRP $26
  • Little Road Shiraz – McLaren Vale RRP $26
  • Hut Block Cabernet Sauvignon – McLaren Vale RRP $26

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