Balgownie Estate Bendigo Shiraz 2013

This is such a beautiful wine that it was honestly a shame to finish it. Like the 2012, it has a rich and concentrated colour, which is matched by its strong and enticing aromas. There’s loads of dried red and black fruits, smoke, shoe polish, tar and prune, and a touch of vanilla from the 40% new French oak. The palate is captivating, mirroring the aromas and adding dusty tannins which still show lots of grip. It gets better with air, and is even nicer on the second night, so I recommend letting it breathe for at least two hours before you drink it. The ABV is quite high (14.8%) yet it’s hidden well in this stunning wine.