Dominique Portet
— Portfolio —
The Brut Rosé is sourced exclusively from Upper Yarra Valley fruit, 25 years old vines at 250 metres altitude. It is a blend of Pinot Noir (55%) and Chardonnay (45%), based on the 2023 vintage harvest. To this, 15% reserve wines (reaching back to 2013 vintage) were blended, adding subtle complexity and maturity. The grapes were handpicked, gently pressed, and fermented before undergoing secondary fermentation in the bottle. The wine was then aged for 24 months on lees, disgorged, and given a gentle (6g) dosage prior to release.
“A delicate pale salmon hue, radiant and fine. Aromas of wild strawberry, rose petal and citrus zest are layered with hints of pastry and spice. The palate is lively and elegant, with red berry fruit carried by bright acidity and a silky mousse. A long, soft finish reflects both the freshness of 2023 and the quiet complexity drawn from the reserve wines.” – Notes by Ben Portet
To accompany the much-lauded Brut Rosé, Dominique Portet has created a limited-release vintage ‘white’ sparkling in the form of this new Brut Nature. Sourced exclusively from fruit from their leased vineyard near Gladysdale in the Upper Yarra, a region that has been synonymous with premium sparkling production dating back to early plantings in the 80s and 90s, at an elevation of 220 to 250 metres.
The blend is 45% Pinot Noir and 55% Chardonnay, with 5 to 10% of the overall base wine coming from reserve wines consisting of 8 to 10 years of back vintages to add complexity. The wine is left on lees for 36 months with absolutely zero dosage, hence Brut Nature.
Ben Portet comments that, due to the low cropping from this vineyard, the fruit already has a lot of richness. It’s a similar story in Champagne, where producers are using less dosage due to warmer vintages and riper fruit.
This is the first release of the Brut Tradition NV. Every part of this wine is produced in house at the winery with the closest attention to detail at all stages, from the primary ferment, through to secondary ferment and finally disgorgemnet. With the base wine from the 2023 vintage all sourced from fruit in Gladysdale in the cool conditions of the Upper Yarra. The blend sits at 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay with 10% museum wine reaching all the way back to 2012. That’s over a decade of reserve wine sitting in the blend, which is no small thing for a first-release NV.
Made using the traditional method, 36 months on lees in bottle before disgorgement building that textural, savoury complexity you want without losing the brightness of the 2023 fruit underneath. Dosage of 7g/L, and the liqueur d’expédition itself uses museum Chardonnay, so that reserve character isn’t just sitting in the blend, it’s adding complexity at disgorgement too.
FONTAINE ROSE 2025
Bottle Shot
Fontaine Rosé remains a cornerstone of the range in 2025, delivering freshness, balance and quiet generosity in equal measure. The blend brings together 40% Merlot, 30% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, each playing a clear role in the final wine.
All fruit is hand picked and sorted, then gently pressed with minimal skin contact to preserve delicacy and purity of flavour. Fermentation takes place at cool temperatures in stainless steel, with a portion matured on fine lees to build texture and roundness while retaining brightness and lift.
The 2025 season was defined by a warm, dry spring and summer, leading to early ripening and an intense but well-balanced harvest. Sourced from estate vineyards across the Yarra Valley, cooler nights helped preserve natural acidity, delivering a rosé with vibrancy, aromatic lift and gentle complexity.
SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2024
Bottle Shot
Sourced from a mature vineyard in Gladysdale, nestled in the Upper Yarra at 250 metres elevation. The steep, volcanic red soils promote slow ripening and naturally high acidity—ideal conditions for Chardonnay. The 2024 vintage brought balanced yields thanks to improved fruit set, followed by a mild, even summer. Free from heat extremes, the long ripening season delivered fruit with exceptional flavour concentration, freshness, and drive—a hallmark year for the region.
The hand-harvested fruit was whole-bunch pressed directly to French oak for fermentation, using a mix of barriques (228L) and puncheons (500L), with 25% new oak lending subtle spice and structure. Around 30% of the wine went through malolactic fermentation to build softness and mouthfeel. Lees were stirred through the early months for added body and texture. After nine months in oak, the wine spent a further two months in tank to settle naturally before bottling.
SINGLE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2023
Bottle Shot
The Gladysdale subregion is home to some of the most iconic Pinot Noir vineyards of the Yarra Valley. Situated at an altitude of 250m in the far eastern quadrant of the valley, the mature (25+ years) plantings of low-yielding MV6 clones thrive in these cooler growing conditions and red soils.
The harsh growing conditions at the start brought yields 30% lower than last year with small berries and bunches. As the season improved, the warm, dry weather let the smaller berries ripen perfectly and pack a big punch of fragrant, bright red fruit characters.
The grapes were hand-harvested and chilled overnight to ensure brightness and purity. Ten per cent were left as whole bunches to add perfume and freshness. They were crushed and kept on skins for two weeks before being transferred into fine French oak barrels (20% new) with very tight grain to add structure. After maturing for ten months in barrel, the wine was bottled and aged in the cellar until now.
“A very bright crimson. A bit darker-fruited than the ’22 but with equally good purity and complexity. Subtle florals and spice too. Even better on the plush yet beautifully balanced and structured palate. The tannins are chalky and fine. It’s a good combination and bodes well for the future. It might be a relatively new variety for the Portets, but they are kicking goals with every new pinot noir release.” – 96 pts – Wine Companion
FONTAINE CABERNETS 2024
Bottle Shot
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc. The fruit is all hand- picked and sorted before gentle de-stemming and fermentation at cool temperatures to preserve lift and aromatic freshness. After 15 days on skins, the wine was transferred to French oak barrels (20% new) for 12 months of maturation before final blending and bottling.
All parcels were sourced from the Coldstream area, in the heart of the Yarra Valley. These north-facing vineyards sit on clay-based soils with layers of broken sandstone, offering excellent water retention and vine balance. Cabernet Sauvignon delivers structure and drive, Merlot adds plushness, while Malbec and Cabernet Franc bring aromatic lift and energy. The 2024 vintage has yielded a classic yet approachable Bordeaux blend—vibrant, elegant and fine-boned, with the kind of effortless drinkability.
RESERVE DE FAMILLE 2021
Bottle Shot
The 2021 Réserve de Famille marks a defining moment for the estate, capturing the growing confidence and clarity of the vines under the Warramate Hills in the Yarra Valley. Bordeaux varieties, now fully settled into site, show a depth and resonance that speaks clearly of place, moving beyond youth into balance and cohesion.
The vintage was shaped by a long, cool growing season, free of heat spikes and supported by perfectly timed rainfall. Yields were moderated in the vineyard, resulting in fruit with generosity, natural acidity and supple texture. Harvest took place between 21 and 25 April.
Parcels were fermented separately in 7000-litre oak vats, with the final blend assembled in June before ageing for 24 months, including 18 months in French oak (35% new). Bottled mid-June 2023.
FONTAINE CHARDONNAY 2024
Bottle Shot
Fruit is sourced from mature vines in Gladysdale, in the cooler, elevated reaches of the southern Yarra Valley. Higher altitude and red volcanic soils help retain natural acidity while delivering refined citrus and stone fruit character. The 2024 season was classic for the area, with good winter rainfall followed by a warm, dry finish, resulting in healthy crops and balanced fruit.
Fermented in French oak with 15% new barrels, then aged on lees for eight months to build texture and subtle creaminess without overshadowing fruit purity. Bright, textural and effortlessly drinkable, with freshness and quiet generosity in equal measure.
FONTAINE PINOT NOIR 2024
Bottle Shot
Sourced from a high-altitude vineyard in Gladysdale, Upper Yarra Valley, where cooler conditions and elevation preserve freshness and finesse. The 2024 vintage was warm and dry, encouraging full flavour development while maintaining natural acidity and supple tannins.
Fruit was hand picked, sorted and gently destemmed, then fermented in small open fermenters with gentle hand plunging. Matured for eight months in French oak barriques (20% new). Crafted for early enjoyment, this Pinot Noir focuses on purity of fruit and a juicy, seamless palate, with depth, perfume and vibrant energy.