{"title":"Charles Melton | Barossa Valley","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Charles Melton Vineyards in the Barossa Valley, South Australia\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/Collection_Banner_ca70486b-5dab-44ff-a32c-37d998f8a588.jpg?v=1621325217\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince 1984, \u003cb\u003eCharles Melton\u003c\/b\u003e has played a monumental role in safeguarding the viticultural soul of the Barossa Valley. At a time when the wider industry was aggressively uprooting old, low-yielding bush vines in favour of high-producing, fashionable international varieties, Charlie Melton took a defiant stand. He championed the region’s historic, dry-grown Grenache, Shiraz, and Mourvèdre, convincing local farmers to preserve their ancient heritage plots. Today, his 32 hectares of estate vineyards across Tanunda and Lyndoch are farmed entirely chemical-free, with the oldest vines dating back to 1947. These are supplemented by trusted multi-generational growers, including rare blocks planted in the 1880s. This incredible old-vine fruit is treated to traditional open fermentation and gentle French oak ageing, yielding remarkably fresh, supple, and age-worthy reds that stand as global benchmarks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe absolute jewel in the estate’s crown is \u003cb\u003eCharles Melton Nine Popes\u003c\/b\u003e, a legendary red explicitly styled as a New World counterpart to the great French blends of the Southern Rhône. The name itself comes from a brilliant, accidental piece of wine history. Charlie wanted a nod to the famous French region of \u003ci\u003eChâteauneuf-du-Pape - \u003c\/i\u003ewhich actually translates to \"The Pope's New Castle\" - but with his French skills being completely non-existent at the time, he mistakenly thought the word \u003ci\u003eneuf\u003c\/i\u003e meant \"nine\" instead of \"new.\" The name stuck, and today this iconic blend of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro delivers a masterclass in elegant power, layering rich red fruits, aniseed, and warm liquorice spices across a remarkably silky, fine-grained palate. Standing proudly alongside it is \u003cb\u003eCharles Melton Rose of Virginia\u003c\/b\u003e, a highly individual, vibrant cerise rosé named after Charlie's wife, which delivers an intense bouquet of Turkish Delight, pepper, and exotic spice, offering a full-bodied yet brilliantly crisp profile that completely subverts standard rosé expectations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe portfolio displays further elite craftsmanship with its highly acclaimed, single-site expressions. The beautifully named \u003cb\u003eCharles Melton Grains of Paradise\u003c\/b\u003e Shiraz showcases the brighter, more elegant side of the Barossa, offering a far more lifted and fragrant profile than the region's typical heavyweight styles. Mixed with the incredible longevity of \u003cb\u003eCharles Melton Voices of Angels\u003c\/b\u003e Shiraz—sourced from a stunning cooler vineyard that straddles the high-altitude border of the Adelaide Hills and the Eden Valley—it delivers a modern Australian classic defined by intense structural focus, peppery refinement, and exceptional structural depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe deep textures, fragrant aromatics, and polished structural balance across the entire line make these bottles magnificent companions for the dining table. The opulent weight of the Nine Popes and the dark-fruited elegance of their single-site Shiraz expressions possess the presence to effortlessly elevate a slow-roasted shoulder of venison, a classic beef Wellington, or a Sunday roast leg of lamb. Meanwhile, the bold, spicy complexity of the Rose of Virginia makes it a spectacular partner for aromatic Asian dishes, crispy pork belly, or an evening sharing a selection of premium charcuterie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCHARLES MELTON\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c!-- split --\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"charles-melton-rose-of-virginia","title":"Charles Melton Rose of Virginia 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis unique Barossa Valley rosé 'Rose of Virginia' is named after Charlie Melton's wife, Virginia and is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The emphasis at Charles Melton Wines is on the quality of fruit and as such all grapes are dry grown and harvested from the winery's own 80 acres of prime Barossa vineyard land, as well as from a select group of grape growers. Made from only the 'free-run' juice, this rosé has a fragrant Turkish Delight bouquet, with a little pepper and spice to add complexity. The usual unique vibrant cerise tint adds colour to the table. Balanced acidity, tannin and weight give the usual 'Rose of Virginia' combination of richness yet crispness. It will retain its fruit sweetness and perfume over the next few years without fail. [#intro]A vibrant cerise rosé, with a fragrant bouquet of Turkish Delight, seasoned with pepper \u0026amp; spice...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Charles Melton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39412616364099,"sku":"A23MELTONROSE-1","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/products\/RoseofVirginiaBottle.jpg?v=1621547486"},{"product_id":"charles-melton-nine-popes","title":"Charles Melton Nine Popes 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eCharles Melton's Nine Popes is a nod to the great wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and is as rich, powerful and beautifully balanced as the best examples from the Rhône in France. Almost a permanent feature in Matthew Jukes’ 100 Best Australian Wines. The Grenache (50%) in the blend comes from old bush vines in the Barossa, many of which are over 80 years old. The Mourvèdre (2%) is also from a small parcel of bush vines in the Eden Valley, whilst the Shiraz (48%) is trellis grown. The blend is made up primarily of grapes from Charles Melton's prime vineyards plus some from the vineyards of a small number of trusted partner growers. None of the vineyards are irrigated, they are all dry grown. This coupled with the low yielding old vines leads to great concentrations of flavour in the grapes. Charlie uses a range of different techniques in the production of the Nine Popes. Both whole bunch and whole berry fermentation is completed and temperatures are kept cool. The wine is aged on lees for 24-28 months in French oak, of which 60% is new oak. The wine is then naturally settled and bottled without fining. Nine Popes is deep red in colour with a floral bouquet. The palate is structured and spicy with sweet red fruit and floral flavours which will develop further over time. It is rich and complex in the Popes tradition.[#intro]A rich, powerful \u0026amp; beautifully balanced Oz interpretation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Charles Melton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39421439115331,"sku":"A19MELTONNINEPOPES-1","price":72.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/products\/NinePopes.jpg?v=1622304906"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/collections\/Collection_Image_4fb8dee9-de30-4e64-b8ce-a61ce0109bc3.jpg?v=1621325621","url":"https:\/\/hic.wine\/collections\/charles-melton.oembed","provider":"Hic!","version":"1.0","type":"link"}