What contributes to the price point of the high-end Charles Melton wines – the Nine Popes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grains of Paradise Shiraz, and Voices of Angels Shiraz?
– the quality of the fruit: o Barossa grown, o vines aged up to 130 years, o hand pruned down to 1.5 tonnes/acre, o hand harvested, o bunch-thinned when necessary (in a naturally high-yielding year), o growers paid top $$ to keep crops low/quality high. – the winemaking: o Charlie’s experience, expertise and reputation – built over 30 years; o the wines are handcrafted. Hard labour goes into the picking, crushing, pumping-over, pressing, barrel work, and blending; o only the best (mainly French – Saury and Radoux) oak is used; o the wines are in limited supply – only 250-300 tonnes/12-15,000 cases a year; o the wines have gained national and international recognition; they are in high demand throughout the world; o the wines have been judged among the best in their class by the most educated palates in the world – Robert Parker, Wine Spectator (USA), Decanter, Jancis Robinson, Robert Joseph (UK), James Halliday (Aus), Bob Campbell (NZ), Winpac (Asia).