BROTHERS AT WAR Peacekeeper Grenache, Barossa Valley

Alkina Kin Night Sky Grenache Shiraz Mataro, Barossa Valley The Night Sky is a relaxed red made from certified organic and biodynamic fruit. A Barossa blend of equal parts Grenache and Shiraz, with some savoury Mataro too, the red and black fruits fuse to create a ripe and smooth core that is big but never overbearing. The Alkina Kin range enables the team to develop releases that celebrate local artists whose work features on their stunning labels.

A wine who’s reputation proceeds it, 0f particular note is the interesting winemaking on show here – it’s old school, yet cleverly so, with all the components co fermented, everything relying on the juice, rather than new oak to tell the story. I like that blend of old and new – its what the Barossa does best. A mid red colour, this has dried herbs, cherry, a waft of VA and tomato paste on the slightly forward savoury nose. There is even a hint of saddle, though its more winey than bretty. The palate is medium bodied, pleasurably soft and somewhat evolved, with spicy old oak the only influence, the rest derived from integrated, maturing fruit. It feels like a pair of favourite jeans – worn in all the right places and comfortable from the get go, yet without losing its style. Suffice to say its one very drinkable, enjoyable, medium bodied drink and its all the better for it. It probably won’t seduce you with its intensity and some will be looking for more primary fruit freshness (I’d like to see it in a screwcap too because I’m a stelvinista or even a vino-loker: now they are pretty sexy too) but I’d drink a ton more of this than so many heavier Barossan reds. 18.0

Super light, almost Pinot-esque example of Grenache from biodynamic vines in the Barossa Valley.