A wine from McLaren Vale that’s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. With a few years in bottle, this is ready to drink now, but you could cellar it for years (if you wanted to). A dense, inky purple colour, with a lovely, Bordeaux-like perfume. Take that and add some good ripe Aussie fruit, and this a very tasty New World take on an Old World style. Brimming with blackcurrant, mint, cherry, cedar, plum, pencil shavings, thyme and black pepper on the nose. The fruit takes centre stage into the palate – plush, concentrated and weighty. Plenty of personality – there’s spice, herbs and some minerality as well as savoury notes of tapenade, roast beet and green capsicum plus a resinous, earthy note. A balance of dry – the tannins are quite firm – and juicy, with a bright acidity. The finish is excellent – peppery, dry and long. 93pts
D’Arenberg ‘The Galvo Garage’ 2018
