Backline Wines has been launched by three of Australia’s most celebrated Wallabies players, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell.
Discovering their love for wine during their rugby careers in France, the trio embraces the ‘joie de vivre’ of French lifestyle to craft a wine brand that pays tribute to the excellence, connectedness and appreciation for the finer things in life.
Partnering with renowned winemaker, also affectionately dubbed the Bushing King of McLaren Vale, Ben Riggs, the trio has just announced their newest addition to the label, Backline ‘295’ McLaren Vale Shiraz.
Drew Mitchell said the new addition to the range is a tribute to the trio’s rugby career together in the Wallabies’ backline.
“Gits, AAC and I have collectively played 295 games in the Wallabies’ backline. You form an incredible mateship, on and off the field, when playing in the backline, and this wine captures this perfectly, alongside our commitment to excellence and our love for a laugh. It’s a wine that is full of character and is the ultimate expression of a McLaren Vale Shiraz.”
This powerful wine is a blend of three iconic McLaren Vale vineyards including Gateway, Martins and Piebald Gully Valley, that harmoniously come together on the palate to create a wine that is full of flavour and character.
Winemaker, Ben Riggs has said the 295 Shiraz is well structured, full-bodied with lush berry, chocolate and meaty aromas that lead to a long and lingering finish.
With only 1063 bottles produced, the same number of points scored by the trio in tests for the Wallabies, this is an extremely limited release. The bottle is a talking point in itself, finished with a quality embossed bronzed label and wax sealed by hand, this is a wine to be enjoyed now or in the next 15 years.
The 295 McLaren Vale Shiraz joins Backline’s existing line up of the Backline “Block Raiders’ Langhorne Creek Shiraz, 2018, the name paying homage to one of the boys’ favourite plays during their time with the Wallabies. RRP $139 per case of six.
The Backline “Je Fais” Langhorne Creek Cabernet Blend; “Je Fais” meaning ‘I do’, refers to not only
Adam’s love of these famous cabernet based wines but also the coming together with great friends including both Gits and Brew, for the celebration of his marriage to his now wife, Anna, in the gorgeous Chateau Soulac in France. RRP $139 per case of six.
And finally, the “Pilou Pilou” Fleurieu Peninsula Rosé 2020, named after the famous war cry of the warriors of Toulon, a club Gits and Drew played for after establishing careers in Australia. RRP $114 per case of six.
The ‘295’ McLaren Vale Shiraz, and wider Backline Wines range is available exclusively from www.backlinewines.com.au
