This newly opened cellar door in McLaren Vale has a claim to fame – it is the first South Australian licensed collective cellar door on the new licensing laws.

Mandelli Estate Cellar Door

The cellar door is the reincarnation of the old Clarence Hill premises and has had a total makeover.  This new facility has the following features:-

Inside Mandelli Estate Cellar Door

Cellar Door for Mandelli Wines and Simply Organolecptic Wines

Devonshire teas (lovely hand made scones with jam made from fruit on the property)

Espresso coffee

Art galery

Function centre – private and corporate functions, weddings

Estate grown jams, olives and almonds

Pick your own fruit in season

Oils and balsamic vinegar from The Passionate Foodie

Jewellry

The facility also has WiFi available for those that just want to hang out while checking their Facebook page.

The Mandelli Estate wines are made at Dennis Wines with mentoring assistance from Linda Domas.  The wines are labeled as Diplomats Daughter – simply because Caroline was just that, a Diplomats daughter.

Mandelli Estate Wines

2010 Diplomats Daughter Secret Service Sauvignon Blanc ($A15)

Made from Fleurieu fruit and even though it is very aromatic it is a different Savy.  Minerality and pear aromas combines with a lovely lime acid finish that does not scream Sauvignon Blanc.  Still not for me, however those that like lots of acid in their white wines should give this a try with a big plate of freshly caught and cooked seafood.

2010 Diplomats Daughter A Spy Named Rose ($A18)

A Shiraz wine (Sellicks Beach fruit) made in a dry style.  Aromas of rose and plums with a hint of toffee on the back of the nose.  The flavors are red fruit based but not the normal strawberries and cream one can get with this style.  More of a serious Rose than a lot of lolly water wines of this style.

2004 Diplomats Daughter Spooks Shiraz ($A20)

The first wine made by Caroline and was literally made in the Sellicks Hill vineyard that it was licked.  The wine is all about secondary flavors.  Mushrooms and moss aromas combine with flavors of chocolate covered mushrooms.  If you want to see a wine that is transitional from fruit based to these secondary flavor profiles than this is one to check out.  A forest mushroom risotto with lots of Parmesan cheese.

Simply Organolecptic Wines

2010 Perception ($A15)

Mount Compass fruit is used in this very unusual blend – Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.  It produced a wine with lemongrass, white flower and apple aromas with flavors that scream minerallity with pear and lemongrass.  I enjoyed this blend and would  to try it with grilled chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto.

2010 The Collaboration Cabernet Rose ($A18)

Another dry Rose wine but very different from it’s stable mate.  The aromas are very fruity with perfume wafting around the glass.  There is blackcurrent sweetness flavors with quite an interesting creamy mouthfeel.  Try it with some crusty bread and some runny brie – yum!

2008 Nothing But Cabernet Sauvignon ($20)

McLaren Vale comes to the front yet again – the wine shows all the chocolate aromas and mid palate that this wonderful wine region is known for.  The wine shows blackberries with a dry dusty tannin finish.  One for the Cabernet lovers out there to check out, with a pan fried lamb loin steak.