Michael Fragos, Chief Winemaker at Chapel Hill, has quietly gone about making wine yet most people I know would be oblivious to the fact he has been awarded the Bushing King three times.  The most recent, in 2010, was jointly won with Bryn Richards, also a winemaker at Chapel Hill.

In between being awarded the Bushing King, he was crowned the world’s winemaker of the year at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London in 2007!

I can remember Michael Fragos when he was at Tatachilla in the 1990’s making the Keystone Grenache Shiraz blend.  A wine that was a regular in James Halliday’s Top 100. He clearly has a knack with blending varieties that love each others company.

This grenache (60%), shiraz (30%), mourvèdre (10%) blend is all about enjoying a wine while it is young, fruity and fresh.  It sounds strange I know but, it seems such a happy wine.  It could easily be the life of your next barbeque.  It also has what it takes to cellar for the medium term thanks to having plenty of luscious fruit and just enough tannin but, for a wine that costs $25, why would you.  As it says on the back label, “to be enjoyed with gusto”…and I did with homemade pizza built from the base up.

Region: McLaren Vale     Price: $25 ($20 if you join their wine club)     Source: Swap

http://www.chapelhillwine.com.au