We were lucky enough recently to get our hands on some of the lovely drops from The Estate collection of South Australia’s Millon Wines.

Millon takes its name from the Spanish word millón (million), reflecting the traditional values of Old World winemaking while acknowledging the millions of hours the Millon team has invested, to be able to create outstanding New World wines. And also, it’s a nod to the fact they hope “to inspire millions of toasts with family and friends, celebrating the dedication and heart of Millon Wines”. It’s a nice sentiment.

The Estate wines – a Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon – are all made with Eden Valley fruit, from family owned vineyards.

Celebrating the hard work of the Millon Wines vineyards and winery, The Estate range features serious wines that showcase the best of what the Eden Valley region has to offer, exhibiting layers of depth, complexity and concentration – all at an accessible price point of only $27 each.

The richness of flavour of each wine delivers an honest reflection of the vineyards from which they come. With exuberant aromas, purity of fruit and high levels of ripeness, The Estate range is definitely worth checking out.

The Estate Riesling (vegan friendly) is pale straw in colour, offering lifted floral notes on the nose, alongside intense lime and lemon aromas. The same citrus notes are echoed on the palate, alongside an alluring minerality. Well-balanced with crisp natural acidity, typical of Eden Valley Riesling, this is a dry wine, with a zesty fresh mouthfeel. It is ready to drink now but will also age well over time with careful cellaring.

The Estate Pinot Gris (vegan friendly) is fruit-driven and packed with zesty lime, ginger, and floral white blossom. It was fermented with a high proportion of grape solids so as to create a textural, creamy mid-palate balanced by mouth-watering acidity, delivering a crisp finish.

The Estate Chardonnay (vegan friendly) is pale gold in the glass, with subtle green hues. It offers lifted notes of white peach, rock melon, citrus fruit and ginger on the nose; while the palate displays creamy lychee and pear, complemented by toasty undertones and lingering acidity. The 2021 vintage is balanced and elegant, acid-driven, and finished with a good hit of oak to bring extra layers of depth to the wine.

The Estate Shiraz (vegan friendly) is a classic Eden Valley style. The 2020 vintage displays a deep crimson colour, and offers aromas of forest fruits and wild berries with additional spice notes. The palate exhibits layers of blackberries, spice and chocolate, finishing with fine, velvety tannins and persistent length. Delicately balanced and well-structured, it’s a lovely example of the style.

The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (vegan friendly) is deep purple in the glass, exhibiting complex aromas of violets, blackcurrants, and plums on the nose. The palate rewards with pronounced black cherries, mulberries, and a hint of star anise. The 2020 vintage has beautiful flavours driven by its cool climate fruits, offering a complex depth of flavours while maintaining beautiful varietal characteristics.

Millon Wines’ Head Winemaker Angus Wardlaw also gave us some tips to produce consistently great food and wine pairings:

• The wine should be more acidic than the food.
• The wine should be sweeter than the food.
• The wine should have the same flavor intensity as the food.
• Red wines pair best with bold flavored meats (e.g. red meat).
• White wines pair best with light-intensity meats (e.g. fish or chicken).
• Bitter wines (e.g. red wines) are best balanced with fat.
• It is better to match the wine with the sauce than with the meat.
• More often than not, White, Sparkling and Rosé wines create contrasting pairings.
• More often than not, Red wines will create congruent pairings.

Useful, huh? So what are you waiting for? Get yourself some of The Estate wines, and take a virtual trip down to South Australia. What’s not to love?!

The Estate is available via Millon Wines here.

– Jonathan
Jonathan Leeming is a wine industry professional who lives and breathes wine. He has completed a Diploma in Wines, holds a French Wine Scholar certification, works as a wine marketer by day, and writes about wine and hosts wine events in his free time. A member of Mensa and a hardcore dog lover, you can follow him at @jpleeming, LinkedIn, and Vivino.

Disclosure: The Plus Ones were invited guests of HHPR.
Image credits: HHPR.