Colab and Bloom Montepulciano 2021

This southern Italian grape (don’t mistake it for the wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which is made from Sangiovese and comes from Tuscany – because why wouldn’t the Italians want to make things as confusing as possible) contains to make inroads in vineyards far beyond its home, and perhaps nowhere more impressively than in South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula. Deep maroon in colour, this wine offers an explosion of aromas, with florals, plums, mulberries, cloves and dark berries. There is an emerging plushness here and that should be even more apparent in a year or two. The palate sees more flavours with coffee grinds, dry herbs and bay leaves coming into play. With good focus, firm tannins and decent length, this should give pleasure over the medium term. Expect this variety to continue to make strides in the coming years.