Collector Rose Red City Sangiovese 2017

First impressions, this is a gorgeous wine, in a style I absolutely love. Fine and balanced with aromas from the savoury, dried spice and herb end of the scale. There’s plenty of juicy red berry fruit on the palate; marzipan, cherry and redcurrant spring to mind. It sits comfortably in the mid weight class, fine tannins framing the just ripe fruit. That’s exactly why I love it so much, there’s nothing overplayed here. No heavy stewed fruit, just purity and line.

Alex works with a few varieties here, there’s the majority Sangiovese but also Malvasia Nera, Canaiolo Nero, Colorino and Mammolo, a real Tuscan blend. Could I mistake it for a top Chanti, possibly, but there’s something about the irrepressible fruit flavours that could only come under an Australian sun. Of course it’s a fantastic match with tomato based pasta sauces but I would love to pair it with a simple home made pizza, layered with sopressa and mushrooms with sage and oregano.

Fergus McGhie

A native Canberran, Fergus is a wine fanatic who happily works in one of Australia’s finest small vineyards right in his own back yard. His fine dining restaurant training proved more useful and nearly more interesting than an arts degree at the ANU and a love of wine followed. Vintages as a cellar hand removed the mystique but didn’t quell the love. As a wine retailer, Fergus learned there is always another great wine around the corner and as a wine writer for The Canberra Times he learned that the stories behind the wines make them taste better. An occasional show judge and snowboarder, he has a guilty love of simple, uncomplicated wine, craft beers and a well-made Negroni.