Angove’s (Australia) Nine Vines Tempranillo Shiraz 2006
Tempranillo is still a comparative rarity in Australia, described on the back label of this wine as being ‘not dissimilar to a champion Toreodor in full flight.’ Well, whilst the copywriter should keep taking the tablets, the wine is pretty good stuff that marries the slightly smoky and herbal cherry qualities of the Tempranillo with the much more gutsy Shiraz. There’s plenty of vanilla and rich, minty sweet fruit and oak on the nose, with ripe summer berries, cherry and a hint of leafy tobacco. Onto the palate, and the lighter, creamier fruit of the Tempranillo melds with a chunky, slightly baked black berry fruit richness of the Shiraz, to make a mouthful of wine that is robust and chewy, yet has a bit of smokiness and mystery about it too. For fans of the fairly big and obvious style, but one that delivers that with panache. £5.99, Tesco.
