Best of the Black Market Unwrapped : Reds Selection

The nose opens with cherry ripe and hints of vanilla. There’s obvious oak which, rather than overpower and detract from the fruit, merely adds another element of interest. It’s savoury with a gutsy core of savouriness, umami maybe? And that’s just the nose. Spice features early on the palate followed by a surge of fruit that runs through the spectrum of red to black. The tannin structure is bold and confident keeping everything in place. It finishes long and dry leaving you wondering what just happened. The fact there is so much going on and it remains entirely integrated is fascinating. Best go back for another look we say. Be warned though, you’ll probably be staring at the bottom of the bottle by the time you come to terms with each of the elements that make up this wine, it is intriguing. You could watch the bottle evolve over a few days and still discover something new with each sip.

This is a genuinely joyous glass of wine - perfumed, plush, and carrying real power without ever losing its prettiness. Black pepper, blueberry and violet lead the charge, setting up a palate that's bold but never clumsy about it. There's a tiny splash of Viognier in the blend, the same trick the French have been quietly pulling for years - and if you know what that little addition does, you already know it's nothing but good news here. Imagine giving a pepper grinder a good twist over a bowl of blackberry jam - that's the energy this Shiraz is working with. Rich blackberry and plum fill the mouth, but the cool-climate acidity keeps it light on its feet, and a savoury tug of tannin stops things from ever tipping into sluggish territory. Still remarkably primary despite a few years in bottle, this drinks beautifully now alongside something protein-heavy, and has genuine years ahead of it in the cellar. Lilac, tapenade, clove, a wash of blue fruit, all sitting on a cracked pepper backbone, finishing long and textured. Proof that this cooler pocket of the country has no business being underestimated when it comes to Shiraz.

Red currant, ground white pepper, pencil lead and a generous oak spice on the nose - varietal, precise and completely true to the Margaret River character that makes this region so celebrated for Cabernet. The palate is rich and concentrated, with graphite and spice nuances running right through to the finish alongside a structure and presence that tells you this wine was built with genuine intent and genuine quality fruit. This is Cabernet that followed the best possible fruit to the best possible place in the best possible year. And it shows in every sip. Ten years on and absolutely worth the wait.