Bremerton Tempranillo/Graciano 2021
Langhorne Creek $26
We head to northern and central Spain for the origins of these two varieties, the blend 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano.
Clever maturation in subtle oak brings a gentle spice complexity into the aromatics and palate which has at its core darker berry flavours and attractive juiciness.
Everything works in harmony, mid-weight textured tannins giving length and completion and the promise of cellaring for further pleasure. Very smart.
The Bremerton Fiano is also excellent and, for old time’s sake, the Mollie & Merle Verdelho is a vibrant refresher.
Paracombe Pecorino 2023
Adelaide Hills $28
A native variety in Italy’s Abruzzo region, Pecorino clearly loves the northern districts of the Adelaide Hills where it exhibits to begin a delicious ripeness, orchard florals and cut white stone fruit sensibilities.
Once these entice you, the citrus twangs of ripe grapefruit bring an extra energy to the palate and a pithy finish to follow with a light peppering spice as well. It’s all very bright and beautiful to drink – most exciting.
Paracombe’s other white Italian release, its Vermentino, is also a lovely treat.
Artwine “The Real Thing” Albarino 2023
Adelaide Hills $35
The Artwine crew based at Woodside have had a fair bit of success with this Spanish-origin variety, due to its keen balance between generous aroma and flavour notes – mostly in the white stone fruit spectrum – and the refreshing tension of citrus acidity in grapefruit mode rather than more austere lemon or lime. The result here is a wine with excellent flavour, yet deliciously mouthwatering.
Most impressive. Try also a Reserve style Albarino with extra depth and complexity and, from southern French origins, a characterful Grenache Gris.
La Prova Aglianico Rosato 2023
Adelaide Hills $28
Aglianico is considered one of Italy’s great red varieties; in rosé form it’s a leap into a whole new world, pure and pale in the glass, exhibiting delicate rose petal fragrance, white crunchy strawberry fruit and leaf with a faint peppery note to add soft spice to the tasting vibe.
The palate has appealing chalk dust/tannin textural senses – a genuine gastronomic rosé/rosato with impressive length and underlying subtle red apple tang. Delicious. La Prova’s portfolio of Italian varieties is a genuine treasure chest.
Berrigan Sangiovese 2022
Adelaide Hills $35
Sangiovese – Tuscany’s great hero variety – has settled well into SA, here from the highly regarded Shining Rock Vineyard in the Nairne district.
Awarded trophies in the past two years at the Adelaide Hills Wine Show, this glitters out of the glass with enticing fruitcake notes and wild, crushed crimson berry aromas, followed by an effusive ripeness in the tasting, filling the mouth with a pleasingly rich wave of roasted fruit and garden herbal flavours. Boom. Best with intense braised tomato and meat ragu.
Lake Breeze Nero d’Avola 2023
Langhorne Creek $24
With this variety’s origins in the Mediterranean island of Sicily, it makes perfect sense that the maritime influenced region of Langhorne Creek makes for a good Aussie home.
Nero d’Avola is a naturally exuberant wine, here with wild red berry and baking spice aromas and flavours, underlined with a crumbly earth tone in the palate. Nicely weighted at light to medium bodied, plenty of individual palate character and a lively finish make this a very modern style.
The Lake Breeze Pecorino is also a star in the making.
Tony Love was named the Wine Communicators of Australia 2018 Legend of the Vine (SA), was a member of the Halliday Wine Companion reviewing team for the 2022 edition, reviews for Winepilot and judges at regional and capital city shows. He is the South Australian Wine Ambassador for the Asian-Pacific Region.
