On a 125-acre vineyard on the banks of the Goulburn River grow countless rows of organic, naturally farmed grapes, just waiting for the day they’ll be swirled in a glass and supped to satisfaction under the forward-thinking new wine label, Minimum. Conjured up by the husband-and-wife team behind Grown & Gathered, Matt and Lentil Purbrick, alongside Matt’s father and Tahbilk Winery head winemaker, Alister Purbrick, the family-run wine brand is an ode to nature and simplicity. The team has spent the past two-and-a-half years converting the vineyard using solely organic, natural farming techniques, water-saving initiatives and under-vine cultivation, meaning no chemicals or pesticides are used. In the winery, the grapes are combined with wild and cultivated biodynamic yeasts and low-sulphur, naturally derived additions to produce the label’s launch offering: a 2018 Sangiovese Syrah, 2018 Chardonnay and 2019 Sangiovese Rosato.
The Sangiovese Syrah mid-weight red boasts black cherry, caper, bay laurel and cinnamon aromas, with an underlying plum, blackberry, blackcurrant and clove complexity, while the Chardonnay celebrates white peach, apricot, quince, fig and mandarin, and the Sangiovese Rosato is all about raspberries, sour cherries, strawberries and cranberries. This first release of wines is considered ‘in-conversion organic’ by the ACO, with full certification due later this year. In keeping with Minimum’s focus on sustainability – including a partnership with One Tree Planted, which sees their wines capturing more carbon than they produce – all packaging is 100 percent recyclable or compostable, and most of it is made from 100 percent recycled materials. Snap up a three-pack gift box, half dozen or dozen box (in single or mixed varietals) online, or single bottles from any good wine retailer.
Images: Lentil Purbrick (1), Hilary Walker (2–4), Shantanu Starick (5–6)
