Momento Mori was born out of a desire to make wines that first and foremost have respect for the living. ‘Momento Mori’ is Latin for ‘Remember that you have to die’ (or near to), after all…

New Zealander Dane Johns started his career in wine working for Bill Downie in Victoria, later moving on to start his own label with fruit sourced from just a few organic growers throughout the region. Dane works primarily with Italian varietals such as Fiano, Moscato Giallo, and Nero d’Avola that seem to shine in this climate.

All of Dane’s wines are as hand-made as can be. Small ferments, wild yeast, no new oak, no mechanical pumps, no fining, no filtration, no additions. All of his wines are full of character, freshness and purity, and above all else, they are alive.

2016 Reserve Red is a blend of three different barrels which were Dane's best reds from the year;-
Barrel 1 - Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley
Barrel 2 - Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley
Barrel 3 - Syrah from Northen Heathcote

All three were fermented in stainless steel before spending approximately 7 months in barrel before being picked out, blended together, settled then bottled under gravity without fining, filtration or any additions of any sort (no added sulphites).

Testament to Dane’s size and the local demand for his wines, we received just 5 cases of this wine which was put on top of a pallet from Jamsheed to make its way to NZ!