Step Rd
South Australia

The Estate
 The company, established by Rob Dundon and his wife Bronwyn in 1985, was originally settled at the Horndale Winery, a century-old winery in McLaren Vale. In 1999, they constructed one of the best, most efficient and up to date processing plants in Australia.  This led to the launch of the Step Rd brand. Step Wines Australia comprises two portfolios: Beresford wines from McLaren Vale and Step Rd wines with the reds from Langhorne Creek, and superb Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from the much cooler and high altitude Adelaide Hills.
The Vineyards
 100 hectares (247 acres) of vineyards were purchased in 1996 at Langhorne Creek, and 40 hectares (98.5 acres) at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills.
Langhorne Creek: established as a premium wine-grape producing region as far back as 1860, this spectacular area is surprisingly cool, with a summer heat summation of 1,450 degree days. This oasis, some 70 km southeast of Adelaide, has some marvellous tempering climatic influences from its proximity to Lake Alexandrina, which opens on to the Southern Ocean. The grape quality is deep, rich alluvial soils,  enhanced by floods from the Adelaide Hills over the centuries.
Adelaide Hills: the combination of high altitude (420 meters above sea level), high winter rainfall and cool summers produces ensures low yielding wines, with fruit of supreme excellence. This region produces some of Australia's finest quality white table wines. 
The Wines
















shelf talker / case card

#A1EE11902
UPC code: 6 75783 00034 1
2006 Step Rd, Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills 12/750ml
Pineapple and melon with honeysuckle and light toasty oak on the nose. Fresh pineapple, honeydew melon and lime citrus acidity, which lingers long on the palate, balanced by creamy oak.

"Pale gold. Smoky pear and peach aromas are complicated by anise, sweet butter and mineral notes. Light in body but pleasingly juicy, with fresh apple and melon flavors and good mineral lift. Not as inspiring as the amazing 2005 but this is a very pleasant example of Old World-styled Australian chardonnay."
 - International Wine Cellar (July/Aug 2007), 88 pts

#A1EE11952
UPC code: 6 75783 00034 1
2005 Step Rd, Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills 12/750ml
 "Bright yellow. Mineral-driven citrus, pear and smoked meat aromas, with strong leesy, buttery nuances; this hardly smells New World, unless you're talking $60+ renditions. Silky in texture and strikingly fresh, with excellent purity to the complex flavors of pear, quince, iodine, white truffle and clove. Blind, I'd be smack in the middle of Chassagne-Montrachet. Easily the best-value chardonnay I've tasted this year, with the clarity and depth to squash plenty of wines that cost more per bottle than a case of this-and I say that as a white Burgundy fool." 
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, 91 pts

"The 2005 Chardonnay Adelaide Hills ratchets up the level of quality even higher, coming across like a top-notch Chablis. Subtle notions of honeyed melon and tropical fruit as well as good acidity and surprising depth, length, and richness (from extract, not sugar) suggest it will drink well for several years."
- Wine Advocate (#167, Oct 2006), 90 pts

 National Retail Price: $17.99 / bottle


























UPC code: 6 7878 300035 8    
2007 Step Rd, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills 12/750ml
 "Pale straw. Racy lemon, grapefruit, quince and mint on the nose, with a bracing sea spray quality. Mint-accented citrus and citrus pith flavors are impressively energetic and precise, carrying well through the long, dry finish. A bit uncompromising but I like this style."
- International Wine Cellar (July/Aug 2007), 88 pts
#A1EE119..
UPC code: 6 7878 300035 8    
2006 Step Rd, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills 12/750ml
 Green capsicum, snow peas on the nose. Fresh berry with ripe gooseberry, finishing fresh and zingy.

#A1EE11940
UPC code: 6 7878 300035 8    
2005 Step Rd, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills 12/750ml
 Brilliant, honeydew green color.
Summery tropical fruit aromas with a touch asparagus and grass. On the palate, tropical fruits, citrus and grass flavors finishing fresh and zingy.

"Pale silver. Peppery aromas of lime, pink grapefruit and watercress, with a pungent topnote of magnolia. Delicious, supple sauvignon, with excellent purity to its citrus and pear flavors. Lifted by white pepper on the back. Nicely concentrated and awfully easy to drink."
 - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, 88 pts

"An enticing white is the 2005 Sauvignon Blanc, which offers crisp, melony, fig, and Thai lemon grass-like flavors. This surprisingly flavorful, zesty, dry Sauvignon should be enjoyed over the next 12 months.'
- Wine Advocate (#167, Oct 2006), 89 pts
National Retail Price: $15.99 / bottle






















shelf talker / case card

UPC code:6 75783 00033 4
2005 Step Rd, Shiraz, Langhorne Creek 12/750ml
 "From a fabulous vintage in South Australia, Step Rd’s 2005 Shiraz Langhorne Creek reveals a full-bodied opulence, wonderfully pure, rich, black fruit flavors, and amazing density, purity, and texture. It should be consumed over the next 4-5 years."
 - Wine Advocate (#167, Oct 2006), 92 pts

#A0EE11919
 UPC code:6 75783 00033 4
2004 Step Rd, Shiraz, Langhorne Creek 12/750ml
 Aged 100% in new American oak for 12-18 months.
Deep purple red color. Robust Shiraz showing aromas of plum, pepper and licorice. Generous Shiraz flavors of plum, chocolate and pepper with a smooth and savory finish.

 "Deep ruby. Cool blackberry and dark plum on the nose, with hints of graphite and licorice. Taut and nicely focused, the dark berry flavors framed by bright acidity and complicated by notes of espresso and bitter chocolate. Finishes firm, with solid tannins framing the bitter cherry and mocha flavors. This is very young and really needs a few more years in the bottle."
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, 88+ pts

"More evolved than the 2005, the 2004 Shiraz Langhorne Creek exhibits plenty of pepper, garrigue, white chocolate, spiciness, and an earthy, elegant style with plenty of nuance and evolution. I preferred the 2005, but the 2004 is an outstanding wine."
- Wine Advocate (#167, Oct 2006), 90 pts

 National Retail Price: $22.95 / bottle










#A8GG11926
 UPC code: 6 75783 00023 5
2002 Step Rd, Semillon, Reserve Selection 12/375ml
 Made with 100% Semillon grape, this botrytis dessert wine from Australia displays beautiful honey and apricot aromas. On the palate, this rich and full-bodied wine shows a nice concentration and wonderful marmalade and tropical fruit flavors. It is well balanced with a long sweet finish. Enjoy this seductive nectar as an aperitif or as an ideal companion to foie gras or dessert.

 "Orange-tinged gold. Explosive aromas of orange, apricot, candied peach and floral honey, with a light touch of coconut. Dense, weighty and palate-staining, the ripe apricot and cling peach flavors displaying excellent focus and power. Finishes supple and rich, coating the palate with a flavor of orange marmalade."
 - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, 90 pts

"Readers looking for a Barsac look-alike should check out the 2002 Semillon Reserve Selection, a sweet, botrytised cuvee made from 100% Semillon. Gorgeous aromas of honeysuckle, creme brulee, apricot jam, and pineapple soar from the glass. In the mouth, fresh acidity buttresses the wine’s rich, unctuous style. This Aussie Barsac should be drunk over the next 5-7 years."
- Wine Advocate (#167, Oct 2006), 91 pts
National Retail Price: $37.95 / bottle

#A0EE11938
2004 Step Road, Trig Point, Rose 6/750ml
“Trig Point” is the name of a great surfing beach in South Australia. Sweet, fruity, chewy and juicy Cabernet Sauvignon. The palate has a lush texture and a firm finish. 
“Blessed by the brilliantly clear sunshine I am enjoying the rich, ripe fruit character that have developed wonderfully, producing a wine of great flavor, intensity and softness.” - Rob Dundon, winemaker
National Retail Price: $12.99 / bottle