JM 1ST APPROACH

A dense bright inky purple colour lives up to its varietal meaning. Red liquorice, Turkish delight and exotic spices jump out the glass. A plush and silky mouth feel gives immediate enjoyment, before the dark and intense tannins round out a full but surprisingly delicate fruit palate. As with any Massena wine, the wine can be enjoyed straight away to delight in its fruit purity, or throw one at the back of the cellar for a few years for a softer drinking experience.

Blood plum, spice, a bit of leather, bitter chocolate and an almost musky perfume. Medium bodied with fresh juicy acidity and fine tannin providing shape and control, yet has a supple feel, then pulls firm on the finish. Hazelnuts, blood and earth in the flavour mix. Even flow and charm. Really good to drink. The blend as it should be. On the cusp of 94 points.  Winefront.com.au

it fairly glides along though the mouth, finishing long and sweet. Subtle savoury elements and brown spices too. Typical Barossa Grenache. High quality at the price and a very good drink. 92 points Winefront.com.au

All grapes were hand picked; small batch fermented and basket pressed before being blended and matured in old hogsheads. The vibrancy of Graciano is integral to balance the low acidity of Tempranillo and the Mataro adds further depth, structure and savoury qualities. It’s a hedonistic glimpse of McLaren Vale.

A delicious version of Nero d'Avola with a dense ruby-red color. The enthralling bouquet calls attention to mature and sweet but not cooked scents and balsamic and floral notes of violets with a light trace of tobacco at the close. A wine with a big structure and a remarkable personality.

Straight Up Mataro, named after the Mataro vine’s vertical inclination, is a wine heady with floral herbs of kitchen gardens and elderflowers. A core of bramble fruits and blueberries hold it’s terrestrial, earthy characters and muscular structure.

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.

Green pear, citrus, apricot kernel and a few dried herbs, but perhaps ‘cooly fruity’ is a good way to describe it. It’s clean and refreshing with excellent fruit purity and a little bit of ‘mineral’, perhaps there’s a touch of sweetness to round out  and balance, but feels pretty much dry and pulls that way with its gently herbal and sparkling finish. Well, maybe not ultra-complex, but so good to drink. 91 points Winefront.com.au