Reds That Ain’t Shiraz or Cab

Sometimes it’s nice to drink something medium-bodied, with good fruit intensity with a delicious hedonism coming from bright fruit and tensile acidity rather than super-ripe fruit and whack of oak and a strip of tannins... In this episode, we’ve included Grenache x 2, Durif x 2, a Tempranillo, and a Nero d’Avola. Here’s the backstory on each variety...

DURIF:
Comes from: Francoise Durif, a French botanist discovered a new variety on his nursery vineyard (now known as Durif)
Pronounced: duh:riff
Mum and Dad: One of Dr. D’s Shiraz vines pollinated a Peluorisin flower, giving birth to Durif, one of the most monstrous, black fruited varieties on the planet. Shazam!
An outcast: Rarely grown in France, but has found a home Australia, the U.S. and Israel.
Likes: A warm climate, a willing palate.
Good ones: Offer plenty of fine tannins, plums, spice and melted chocolate flavours.
Nickname: I’ll take six, Shiraz on Steroids, Petite Syrah, Pinot de Romans.

GRENACHE:

Comes from: Spain, with lots of plantings in France’s Rhone Valley
Pronounced: gra:nash
What tha!: Struggled to shake a rep for being only good for blending into GSM’s and making fortifieds. That’s some dumb sh!t right there.
The resurgence: In the last 10 years straight McLaren and Barossa Grenache is developing a reputation as being world class, as in as good as the best French gear.
Old: Aussie Grenache vines are the oldest in the world.
Likes:A warm climate, being ripe but not too ripe.
Good ones: Bright, ripe, strawberry, plums, dried herbs, – stunning balance of intense fruit and acidity finishing with sandy tannins.
Nickname: On my staff account please, Cannonau, Garnacha, Grenache Noir, Garnatxa negre.

TEMPRANILLO:

Comes from: Spain
Pronounced: temp:rah:nee:yo
Famous for: Rioja wines in Spain
Likes: A warm climate but not hot.
Fun fact: Temp is the 4th most widely planted variety on earth, and is capable of long ageing.
Good ones: it’s pretty versatile, from no oak crunchy numbers through to deep, dark ponderous beasts. Typically cherry, plum, spice, cedar, dill and fig.
Nickname: Where’s the Jamon?, Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, Tinti Fino, Aragonez, Tinta Roriz.

NERO D'AVOLA:

Comes from: Italy. The name literally translates as Black of Avola. It is widely planted in Sicily.
Pronounced: nair:oh da:vola
Likes: warm to hot and dry climates, goes alright in the Riverland for instance.
Good ones be like: bold dark fruits, plum, spice, cherry, mint, tobacco, leather, cocoa, blackberries, prune, and a fair whack of acid and tannin.
Nickname: Time to make pizza, Calabrese, principe Siciliano, Niureddu calavrisi.

Bulletproof Red Sixer

Yeah, it’s $240 for the 6 pack, but if ever you were going to splurge, this is the time – just mind bendingly good reds including the Massena flagship off 160-year-old vines, Lone Palm’s magnificent Hillside Shiraz, and Irvine’s sumptuous, $150 a bottle Grand Merlot. Plus a brilliant bonus on your next order of 12 bottles or more! Grab one of these 6 packs and you’ll qualify for a bonus bottle of the 97 point Stonehouse Icon Barossa Shiraz worth $150 with your next order of 12 bottles or more. Click here to see details on the Stonehouse Once you’ve ordered we’ll email you a code to use with your next order. Simply place your next order by the end of April 2022, use the code we sent and you’ll be all set. See below for the details of the wines in this pack...

Your Next Fave Red is in this Pack

Sure, it’s not every day we’ll drop $295 on a doz but we’re quietly confident that you are about to discover your next favourite. So grab a pack, work your way through ‘em at a respectful pace, and when your tastebuds have that ‘too bloody right’ moment, give us a shout. If we still have it in stock, we’ll sort you out with your fave at mate’s rates.

Vegan Friendly Vino

These days there are plenty of vegan friendly alternatives to egg whites, skim milk powder, isinglass, etc. available for finishing wines. So vegan wines are becoming increasingly commonplace, especially reds but whites are coming along too. Best of all, these equivalents make no difference to the quality of the finished wine. So if you are vegan or like drinking with vegan mates, here’s a list of the good stuff which is friendly to both vegans and non-vegans alike.