Denton
Yarra Valley, Victoria.
Available nationwide.
John and Simon Denton’s Estate sits atop a 300-million-year-old granite plug on the border of Coldstream and Tarrawarra in the Yarra Valley, aptly named ‘View Hill’. Vine establishment was in three stages between 1997 and 2004, and included some close-planting of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at the highest elevation of the vineyard. Wines have been produced from this complex terroir since 2010. Luke Lambert, who has established a reputation for producing pure, site-ascendant wines, has run the winery since 2015.
Luke has spoken to us of the electricity the granitic sand and granite boulders provide the fruit in this area; a sentiment obviously shared by other quality-obsessed producers—including Mac Forbes, William Downie and Barney Flanders—who helped shape the winemaking at this incredibly unique site in the early days.
After many exciting years of experimentation, Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay now represent the winery’s premium offering, with several clones of each variety planted to best match each site. The Denton’s Shed series (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) demonstrate Lambert’s talent for delicate and perfumed wines that are immediately expressive and delicious. Spectrum—an experimental range—is currently comprised of a ‘Yellow’ (sous-voile Chardonnay), an ‘Orange’ (also under flor) and down the track, there will also be a Ribolla Gialla fermented on skins.
Wine
SHED Pinot Noir
Variety
Pinot Noir
Terroir
Granitic sand over granite bedrock. Sourced from the bottom section of the North Eastern slope of the Denton View Hill vineyard.
Vineyard
Denton View Hill
Viticulture
Converting to organic (not certified)
Winemaking
Whole-bunch pressed to older French oak barriques and puncheons for wild yeast ferment and malolactic fermentation (100%). Left on full lees with occasional stirring for 6 months. Bottled without fining or filtration.
SHED Chardonnay
Variety
Chardonnay
Terroir
Granitic sand over granite bedrock. Sourced from the bottom section of the North Eastern slope of the Denton View Hill vineyard.
Vineyard
Denton View Hill
Viticulture
Converting to organic (not certified)
Winemaking
30% fermented as whole bunches to dryness, balance whole-bunch pressed. Matured in old French oak with wild yeast ferment and wild malolactic fermentation (100%). Left on full lees with occasional stirring for six months. Bottled without fining or filtration.
SHED Nebbiolo Rosé
Variety
Nebbiolo
Terroir
Granitic sand over granite bedrock
Vineyard
Denton View Hill
Viticulture
Converting to organic (not certified)
Winemaking
Whole-bunch pressed and wild yeast fermented in old French oak. Wild malolactic. Bottled without fining or filtration. Minimal sulphur at bottling.
Nebbiolo
Variety
Nebbiolo
Terroir
Granitic sand over granite bedrock.
Vineyard
Denton View Hill
Viticulture
Converting to organic (not certified)
Winemaking
De-stemmed, wild yeast fermented and held on skins for 20 days with frequent plunging and foot stomping. No temperature control. Pressed to 500 litre French oak puncheons (20% new) and left unsulphured for 18 months prior to bottling without fining or filtration.
Pinot Noir
Variety
Pinot Noir
Terroir
Granitic sand over granite. Sourced from the high density MV6 Pinot Noir block. High on the north east facing slope of Denton View Hill.
Vineyard
Denton View Hill
Viticulture
Converting to organic (not certified)
Winemaking
Fermented with 80% whole bunches included, wild yeast fermented and held on skins for 23 days with frequent plunging and foot stomping. No temperature control. Pressed to 500 litre French oak puncheons (20% new) and left unsulphured for 12 months prior to bottling without fining or filtration.
Chardonnay
Variety
Chardonnay
Terroir
Granitic sand over Granite bedrock. Sourced from the bottom section of the North Eastern slope of the Denton View Hill.
Vineyard
Denton View Hill
Viticulture
Converting to organic (not certified)
Winemaking
Whole-bunch pressed to older French oak barriques and puncheons for wild yeast ferment and malolactic fermentation (100%). Left on full lees with occasional stirring for 6 months. Bottled without fining or filtration.
Yellow
Variety
Chardonnay
Terroir
Granitic sand over Granite bedrock
Vineyard
Denton View Hill
Viticulture
Converting to organic (not certified)
Winemaking
20% fermented as whole bunches to dryness, balance whole bunch pressed. Matured in old French oak with wild yeast ferment and wild malolactic fermentation (100%). Left on full lees and without topping for two years the barrels slowly began to ullage and develop a flor on the surface of the wine. No sulphur was used through maturation and the flor character appeared stable and thick. Bottled without fining or filtration
Orders
For all order enquiries please get in touch.