When I was trying this wine, I got to thinking.  Back in the mid 1800’s when vines were starting to be planted in Mclaren Vale, I wonder if John Reynell and/or Thomas Hardy ever thought to plant Montepulciano vines?  I could be wrong but from what I’ve read, when it came to red varieties, it was mainly Shiraz, Cabernet and Grenache that filled the vineyards.  About 100 years after Messers Reynell and Hardy did their bit for the region, Italian immigrants realised varieties from their homeland would thrive in the Mediterranean climate of the ‘Vale’.  After tasting this Italian varietal, I think we have a lot to thank them for.

Beautiful deep dark colour.  Lots of dark fruits on the nose but elements of red fruits, like cranberries or raspberries, that act like a balance buddy when it comes to the aromas.  I love this wine already just on how it looks and smells!

My taste buds relished the opportunity to be used and abused when it came to trying this wine.  Slightly sour dark cherries aplenty, blackcurrants and blueberries have a say, licorice adds to the mix, and dark chocolate (my favourite) completes the nice flavour package of this wine.

There is some acid on the finish and the tannins are a tad grippy, but the beautiful fruit carries both of theses with ease.  It’s rich in a ‘plenty of flavour’ way but medium bodied in a ‘crowd pleaser’ way.

Hastwell & Lightfoot Website (currently undergoing maintenance)

Region: McLaren Vale, SA     Price: $25     Source: Sample thanks to Hastwell & Lightfoot and Define Wine