Elegant Reds
Elegant Reds include red wines that have lower tannin levels making the wines soft, silky, or velvety. Includes Pinot Noir, French Burgundy, Gamay, Tempranillo, and cool-climate Syrah.
A 'Barnstormer' indeed! Plums, dark cherries, blackpepper and complex spices, including vanilla and cinnamon, with a hint of mocha on the nose. These characters are reproduced on the palate, with a long blackpepper, spice and plum finish. A stunning Hawke's Bay Syrah!
This wine is an incredible find! The nose is intensely perfumed with exotic spices and florals intermingling with pepper. In the mouth there's juicy dark fruit, a peppery lift and fine tannins.
Lots of pepper and violets on the nose, with a palate of fragrant plum, blueberry and finegrained tannins. This is the most refined vintage so far from this small producer.
This shows a vivid cherry nose, leading to a surprisingly savoury palate. Fine textured, with a breath of smoke and spice on the finish. Yum
A herbacious little number that is not little by any means. Some good forest floor type denseness on the nose, with dark fruits across the palate that finish with warmth and spice. 10 months in French oak has given this wine depth and a fine grained tannin structure, that creates a friendly lingering finish.
Cotes du Rhone is fabulous for the spicy, floral characteristics and soft cuddly tannins. You don't always have to spend a lot on these inviting wines - many good examples are available at the $25 - $30 point. Today's example is at the entry level, so not overly complex, but it is astonishingly good value! Syrah based, this wine has a nice touch of spice and black pepper atop rich berry fruits and soft, soft tannins. Very easy drinking and a good introduction to the region.
Sweet cherry and spice on the nose with a hint of orange blossom and an underlying savoury character. The texture is silky and the palate shows warm savoury spice and a hint of cedar.
Red and black cherries, some savoury spice and a drift of smoke on the nose, this is fine-grained with just the right amount of savoury toastiness and a fruitcake spice finish.