Saint and Scholar is a labour of love for Winemakers Stephen Dew and Reid Bosward, the eponymous saint and scholar of the label. Unlike the more traditional Barossa roots of Kaesler, Saint and Scholar is a young and fresh offering centered on 49ha of vineyards in the Adelaide Hills. Under Dew’s and Head Viticulturist Nigel van der Zande’s direction, in just a couple of years the label has undergone major expansion and now includes 10 varietals. This vintage sees a new premium reserve release and a sparkling. Saint and Scholar has opened a large cellar door retail outlet at iconic Adelaide Hills venue Maximilian’s.
A stylish, refreshing, elegant cool climate Shiraz – a wine with modest alcohol, attractive pepper and spice aromas, fine tannins and acid structures which deliver palate length and ageability.
Look
Deep red
Smell
Complex notes of cherries and spice
Taste
Bright fresh cherries, plums and clove notes
Our Pinot Noir grapes are harvested from our beautiful Gumeracha vineyard. These grapes are then exposed to the traditional techniques of whole bunch pressing, bottle fermentation and maturation on yeast lees to allow the creation of an elegant wine with purity of fruit, subtle savoury complexity and finesse.
Its mesmerising bouquet flaunts citrus blossom and white peach notes highlighted by strawberry blossom and lemon zest fragrances. On the palate, the wine enjoys limes and nectarines with the flavours of the palate beautifully balanced with clean acidity that refreshes the senses.
Look
Rose petal pink
Smell
Delicate aromas of citrus blossom, nectarine and white peach
Taste
Hints of citrus and stone fruit, finishing with a clean and crisp acidity
A cheeky Chardonnay bursting to life with favoured summer fruits and textural prowess. Rock melon, mango, kiwi fruit and white peach dominate the nose, all fresh and exciting. Confectionary fruit tingles add an element of fun, but balanced by a savoury nutty creaminess. A honey toasted backbone, ensures there is just the right amount of complexity on this wonderfully crisp and pure nose, understated at best.
Exciting flavours of nectarines, melon and citrus form the basis of this mischievous personality. Structural acidity adds life and vitality, along with a flinty mineral edge and phenolic backbone. This is a wine that is jam packed with energy and excitement, yet offers so much more in terms of elegance, ease of drinking and fruit presence. A real charmer.
Look
Pale Straw
Smell
White peach, citrus, cinnamon oatmeal and aniseed
Taste
Juicy citrus with a slight creaminess. Brisk lemony finish
Bright fresh aromas of mango, pineapples and passionfruit, combined with a citrus burst ensure the wine stays varietal, yet restrained. A delicate floral note, with a nutty creamy edge offers a final unexpected touch of complexity, on this tight yet balanced nose.
Not an overstated nose, but more balanced and controlled. The palate screams warm weather, with bright zippy acidity rolling across the tongue leading into flavours of citrus and fresh tropical fruit that encapsulate ocean views.
Focused phenolics and a touch of creaminess balance attractively with the acid drive, and impact their little piece of texture. Pair this Sauvignon Blanc with herb crusted Snapper, and you are in for a summer treat all year round.
Look
Green with golden hue
Smell
Mango, pineapple and passionfruit
Taste
Refreshing citrus and fresh tropical fruit
A beautifully focused and fragrant wine of fresh primary melon, kiwifruit, nashi pear and green apple notes. Distinct oatmeal nuttiness adds a delicious intricacy, along with indulging buttery nuances.
An exceptionally pure nose, full of varietal complexity. The palate abounds in a fuller volume, rich and textured with a punchy acid drive, offering structural support. Salivating notes of ripe melon, pear and citrus add a burst of clarity, leading into a voluptuous length, leaving you wanting more.
The Saint and Scholar Pinot Gris is a fantastic example of this underrated grape variety. Serve the wine crisp with a local charcuterie board, out in the sunshine, for that authentic provincial feel.
Look
Blush
Smell
Melon, kiwifruit, nashi pear and green apple notes
Taste
Ripe melon, pear and citrus add a burst of clarity
On first inspections, this Pinot radiates bright fresh cherries, red summer fruit of Strawberry and Raspberry, along with crunchy watermelon. Take a closer look, and the wine rewards you with woven twills of autumnal forest floor, herbs and dried twigs, with a touch of earthy spice. The lighter framed structure gives rise to a crunchy acid core that adds spine and excitement.Complex notes of forest floor, boiled lolly, cherries and spices it tight against a line of ultra-fine tannin. This palate is skilfully fruit focused, and with a long silky finish.
A cheeky Chardonnay bursting to life with favoured summer fruits and textural prowess. Rock melon, mango, kiwi fruit and white peach dominate the nose, all fresh and exciting. Confectionary fruit tingles add an element of fun, but balanced by a savoury nutty creaminess. A honey toasted backbone, ensures there is just the right amount of complexity on this wonderfully crisp and pure nose, understated at best.
Exciting flavours of nectarines, melon and citrus form the basis of this mischievous personality. Structural acidity adds life and vitality, along with a flinty mineral edge and phenolic backbone. This is a wine that is jam packed with energy and excitement, yet offers so much more in terms of elegance, ease of drinking and fruit presence. A real charmer.
Look
Golden
Smell
Toasty oak and cinnamon spice
Taste
Flavours of ripe peaches and apricots with honeycomb
Here is a wine full of tension and energy. The nose offers up a showcase of pure citrus, pineapple, green apple and grapefruit. Attractive floral notes add a level of sophistication, with slight honey undertones. Light on its feet, it radiates self-control and clarity.
A wine that’s full of tight tension and mouth-watering acidity immediately greets you on the opening encounter. Compelling hits of citrus, with a nutty edge cue a refreshing intention, leaning into a flinty phenolic textural finish. This is a wine that can easily be defined as clean, crisp and delightfully focused.
Look
Golden Hue
Smell
Tropical fruits with an herbaceous core
Taste
Tropical fruits like mango, passionfruit and citrus
This example of Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir is a true expression of the variety, in a region that is gaining a reputation for producing quality wines. The nose is driven by an abundance of complexity, freshness and varietal markers. Fresh raspberry and strawberry lead the way into an earthy spice, moss, bark and forest floor autumnal feel.
Whole bunch herbal/potpourri characters add complexity, along with shades of sage and rosemary. Roses in bloom encapsulate the nose, offering a fresh environmental image. An expressive example, with a ‘grown up’ stature, and addictive personality.
On tasting, the wine leaps out with fresh strawberries, raspberries and cherry pip. Dusty cedar oak offers layers of intrigue, with a distinct creamy angle. The fine integrated tannins offer textural support, along with a balanced acidity adding brightness to the lighter frame work. A slippery wine, with a savoury finishing and long lingering length will please any Pinot lover, or new comer.
Look
Ruby red
Smell
Floral and delicate with bright red fruit
Taste
Bright and lively palate with well integrated tannins and a lingering complex finish
If you’re after a wine that is luxurious and opulent, yet shows sophistication and elegance, then this is the wine for you. This masterfully crafted example radiates confidence with fresh hits of nectarines, peach and nashi pear, intertwined with lemon curd and vanilla bean. Delicate nuances of oatmeal and almond add a creamy element, that only compliments and builds upon the lushness and complexity. Dynamic.
The palate invites with a dichotomy of rich and generous, verse a wave of scintillation and poise. Flavours of pear, stone fruit and nougat set the tone, with skeletal acidity ensuring this wine stays focused and fresh. A tiny hint of flint, gives a sense of minerality adding a textural component. The wine just rolls off the tongue into a succulent finale, that offers testament the power of the fruit used. For such a generous style, this wine has been made with an element of control, letting the fruit shine and bare its true expression. A real classic.
Look
Golden
Smell
Toasty oak and cinnamon spice
Taste
Flavours of ripe peaches and apricots with honeycomb
A medium-bodied styled wine reflecting its’ cool-climate origins. The nose offers complex and concentrated aromas of dark rich berries, with a touch of sweet prunes. A juicy fruit core, with flavours of blueberries, blackberries, fruit jam but with a lightness on the palate of soft pepper. A gentle and silky framework of tannins supporting the fruit. This single vineyard Shiraz, has very limited production, with the only the best fruit being used.Fruit is harvested by hand at first light, during fermentation the wine is only worked on during nights. Pressed ever so lightly to maintain silky tannins.
Steven is a passionate winemaker and has been crafting red wine vintages at Kaesler, Saint & Scholar and Clare Wine Co since 2002. He is especially an expert in old vine and single vineyard wines.
Steven was born in Mildura and has 30 years’ experience in the wine industry. He was hooked from the first time he entered a winery and realised the power of the grape – and the person in the white coat!
He has worked in various wineries in his career including Lindemans, Penfolds and Charles Melton. This has given Steven a wide breadth of knowledge from the science of oenology to the importance of marketing and presentation.
Steven has acted as an Associate Judge at the Barossa Valley wine show. He has also completed a number of vintages at Domaine Prieure Roch in Burgundy.
The Saint & Scholar vineyard makes for a beautiful, spectacular backdrop for our makers. North facing and particularly hilly, you’ll see the fluffiest of fluffy clouds float above as the sun sinks across the valley, making you want to stay long after the day is done.The hilly terrain means in an area of high rainfall, like the Adelaide Hills, water drains rather well. Together with the beautiful sunlight and naturally cool climate, this makes for a perfect, harmonious environment to ripen quality, consistent vines; soon to be quality, consistent wines. Great wine from the Adelaide Hills thanks to the Saint, the Scholar, and their love of grapes.
Saint and Scholar is a labour of love for Winemakers Stephen Dew and Reid Bosward, the eponymous saint and scholar of the label. Unlike the more traditional Barossa roots of Kaesler, Saint and Scholar is a young and fresh offering centered on 49ha of vineyards in the Adelaide Hills. Under Dew’s and Head Viticulturist Nigel van der Zande’s direction, in just a couple of years the label has undergone major expansion and now includes 10 varietals. This vintage sees a new premium reserve release and a sparkling. Saint and Scholar has opened a large cellar door retail outlet at iconic Adelaide Hills venue Maximilian’s.