JM 1ST APPROACH

has a strong and savory bouquet of mixed red and black fruit, lots of dried herbs and a dash of leather. Tasting the wine reveals jammy mixed berries, dried herbs, and some good prominent tannins. (Prominent, but not overdone by any means.) This is a very good, rich wine with some savory smoky notes. The finish is long, dry and spicy with a bit of mocha, some earthiness and a little dark berry. Viva la Monastrell!

really good. Varietal warm bitumen/dried fig/honey/black fruit Monastrell, with a juicy-jubey touch up from Syrah. Very silky with decent length and a nice tapered palate to a finish where the fruit tannins live.

The family that owns Pico Maccario is a true Barbera specialist! With an intense purple color, this wine features a bouquet of plum and cherry with hints of baking spice. It has a super silky mouthfeel, finishing in sweet fruit and velvety tannins. A rich, satisfying glass sure to please any crowd.  ... A scent of pine or rosemary leads off, followed by flavors of pure black cherry and blackberry. This has density and grip, but in proportion with the juicy fruit. Drink now through 2016.

This Barbera has a deep ruby color with a filtered appearance. There is a beautiful bouquet of red fruit, currants and a hint of perfumed violets and some musty cellar floor. This is a medium bodied wine with a winning flavor combination of dark berry, plum, cranberry, chocolate and lead pencil. True to Barbera’s reputation, there is gripping acidity and a whisper of smooth tannins. The finish is long and lingering.

The stunning Ébano Crianza is made from 100% Tempranillo, known locally as Tinto del Pais, with an average vine age of 20 years. It has a vibrant purple colour with intense fruit notes of ripe cherries, mulberries and raspberries. The wood is well integrated and keeps alive the earlier fruit as well as adding toasty aromas. Ébano 6 is made from 100% Tempranillo and spends 4 months in French oak. Great fruity structure, powerful finish.

Pale metallic copper flecked with pink/purple. The nose shows perfumed candy, raspberry, strawberry and cream with delicate citrus notes. The palate shows light red sweet fruits with clean, citrusy acidity. Soft, delicate mineral finish - as grape to glass as you can get. Perfect for Mediterranean and spicy cuisine. Drink now or up to 3 years.

Well, if a rosé is made by such Burgundy royalty as DRC’s Aubert de Villaine and Dujac’s Jacques Seysses; a bloke sort of has to try it, hey? this is based on old vines Cinsault, a variety not known for its power and complexities, to add fragrance and zip to their reds. In this, the variety’s characteristic rosés, seem to appear not only in the aromatics, but also in a radiant rose pink colour. This is so textured, long and fresh and it plays out with a tingling backbone and a nice drying, savoury note at the end. This is worth finding. Don’t know if I’ve seen a better rosé... Adelaide Review