Ric Red by DR3 2021

Before today, I could count on no fingers the number of wines I’d consumed that had been partly made by a Formula 1 driver. Ric Red is a collaboration between St Hugo winery in the Barossa Valley and Daniel Ricciardo, an Italian-Australian driver who races for Red Bull (if I understand Wikipedia correctly). Guided by chief winemaker Peter Munro, Ric Red is Ricciardo’s easier-drinking “plush red blend – a Secret Sauce, that brings people together all year round”, in comparison to his DR3, a richer and extremely limited bottling of a Shiraz and a Cabernet. I have to say that I was intrigued at the beginning, and impressed by the end.

There was no info on the grape varieties for the Ric Red – the “Secret Sauce” isn’t revealed – but to me it smells like Shiraz with perhaps some additional Grenache (and Mourvèdre), although don’t take my word on that. I will say that as soon as I removed the screw cap, there was a tremendous whiff of really ripe, perfumed fruit, coming across like raspberry jubes. Blueberry, strawberry and cherry make up the fruit component, with some added spice, pepper and violets – very pretty. The palate is medium all the way – body, acid, and tannin – with a silky texture and ripe, pronounced tannins that will settle down a bit more with some age. It has bigger bones (and price) on it than you might expect from an “easier-drinking red” but it made for a very pleasant drinking experience.