Hesketh Barossa Valley Negroamaro 2021

The Koonunga Hill sub-region in Australia’s Barossa Valley might be a long way from this Italian favourite’s traditional vineyards of Puglia in southern Italy, but it certainly seems to have found a second home here. Fruit was picked from the Kalleske family’s vineyards before fermentation in stainless steel for nine months, before the wine was transferred to “third-fill French oak hogsheads” for further maturation.

A terrific example of how one can step away from the usual suspects and traditional varieties to find some cracking wines of brilliant value with emerging grapes, especially those from Italy. A lovely cherry/crimson in colour, the nose offers an array of flavours – plums, florals, red cherries and tobacco leaf notes. Well structured with a supple and slippery texture, through to satiny tannins. Good focus. Notes of blueberries emerge on the palate backed by fresh acidity. This is one of the best Negroamaro’s I have seen from Australia, although granted there are not that many. Delicious and great value.