AMOS VIGNERONS Howard Vineyard Shiraz, Adelaide Hills

DOMAINE MERIEAU Le Bois Jacou Gamay, Touraine, Loire

DCB Wines Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley The entry-level Pinot from Chris Bendle is made to be enjoyed. Details below are for interest only. The fruit for this Pinot (MV6 clone) is sourced from two vineyards one in Kangaroo Ground and the other Woori Yallock. Or as you may know them, the northernmost and southernmost points of the Yarra Valley. Both areas ripen at around the same time but their soil profiles are markedly different. The fruit was treated almost identically from harvest but kept separate. Chilled then destemmed, kept in tank for 48 hours before being pressed onto seasoned oak with around 18 days on skins. The wine was racked then bottled. Pure, simple pleasure.

This wine is fun… spicy nose of anise and dark berries. The palate has dark plums and cherries with a juicy centre. A back palate of crushed cherries linger.

In the glass: Youthful red purple. On the nose: Vibrant and grapey dark berry fruit lift. On the palate: Fresh and fleshy, yet dry and savoury at the same time, showing ripe curranty fruit characters, leather and cola notes and some meaty complexity. This all makes for an interesting food-friendly style of Touriga.