Rhône enthusiast? Do your palate a favour and dabble a little closer to home with this tight dozen of four Grenache-centric blends, three bottles of each, all earth, spice, and elegance. Be it France or Australia, we’re heading South. Two of these wines hail from Southern France, and two from South Australia. Why pick favourites when the drinking is this good?
In this dozen bottle case, you will find three bottles each of the following wines: Tardieu-Laurent Les Becs Fins, Cotes-du-Rhone Villages 2019 Turkey Flat Butcher's Block Red Blend, Barossa Valley 2018 Bleasdale Vineyard Wild Fig S.G.M, Langhorne Creek 2020 J.Vidal-Fleury GSM Grenache Syrah Mourvedre, Vin de France 2020
Each far more than the sum of its blended parts, these four continent-traversing reds are ideal companions to compare, contrast, and thoroughly enjoy. All alike, yet all intrinsically different, they distil just what we love about a spicy, sexy blend. Get tasting!
A similar deep purple/red, the 2019 Cotes Du Rhone Les Becs Fins is another expressive, complex, outstanding wine from this estate. Black raspberries, saddle leather, peppery garrigue, and sandalwood emerge from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, balanced 2019 that has silky tannins and loads of character. It too is ideal for enjoying over the coming 5-6 years.
90-92 points, JebDunnuck.com (December 2020)
Grenache 49%, shiraz 35%, mataro 16%. An even flow of berried flavour, immaculate balance, a bit extra on the finish, the impression that everything is pure and unadorned. Depth of flavour is on the modest side of medium but texture, style and interest are all here in spades.
93 points, Wine Companion (January 2020)
Deep and vibrant crimson-purple colour. Cherry liqueur, cured meats and tapenade - a complex, savoury nose. Plums and strawberry jam on first sip taper to chalky tannins and an earthy, dry finish. Serious and compelling at this price.
92 points, The Real Review (January 2020)
Gold Medal - Class 51
Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2019
The follow-up vintage to the Jimmy Watson-winning '19. Familiar GSM fragrance, with earthy and subtle bush herbals and florals, the palate with some well-toned muscle. Not to be taken too glibly – there is some pleasing tension here.
91 points, Wine Companion (March 2021)
Gold Medal - Class 29
Royal Perth Wine Awards 2021