(2020) Assinatura is a blend of mainly Shiraz (80%), along with 10% Tempranillo and 10% Tannat, aged for 18 months in new French oak, and made only in exceptional years at this property - this is the first since 2014. Deeply coloured, it opens with plenty of Sandalwood spice and tobacco, a darkly-hued set of fruit aromas suggesting blackcurrant and plum, with a touch of smoky meatiness too. In the mouth the savoury black fruit dominates, still that distinctive spiciness, and yet more of the meaty, charcuterie quality. Firm acidity and tannins suggest this would benefit from decanting now, and should have decent cellaring potential too.
(2020) From its traditional home in the northern Rhône Valley, Viognier often makes very full-blown, ripe and rich wines tipping 15% alcohol. But here's a very different take, with only 12.5% alcohol I presume it is picked quite early, though the jasmine and lightly tropical aromas are expressive and typical of the variety. In the mouth there's a peach and apricot fruit character, though zesty, quite pithy acidity soon sweeps that up into the finish.
(2019) Made by Michel Fabre, French owner-winemaker for Fabre-Montmayou in Argentina, and his own excellent estate in Cahors, this blends Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Ruby Cabernet. A deep violet/crimson colour, it's a bit more classical, more European in style than the Don Guerino Malbec for example, with meatier black fruit, though still with a cassis ripeness and a bit of violet lift emerging. In the mouth a leathery, coffeeish, deeply-hued set of flavours, a lot of fruit sweetness here though, the finish quite sweet with smooth texture and rounded tannin and acid balance.
