Australian Formula 1 superstar Daniel Ricciardo has partnered with one of Australia’s most- celebrated wine brands, St Hugo, to co-create DR3 x St Hugo, the country’s newest series of fine wines which will be released annually.
Over a long-term partnership, Ricciardo will work with St Hugo’s Chief Winemaker, Peter Munro, who will share with him the tricks of the winemaking trade including vineyard practices, winemaking techniques, maturation and blending. Ricciardo’s involvement in the process will increase each year as his knowledge and experience in the wine industry builds.
Excited to be part of the new venture, Ricciardo comments: “I’m approaching the partnership in the same way I approach aspects of my racing. I may not be the engineer who physically finesses the car, but I am the one who is driving it, and I have an instinct for what feels right. I share that with the team so the car can be optimised. With winemaking, I’ll take a similar approach, and in this instance, Peter is the engineer. Pete and I work well together, and we want to challenge ourselves to go out of our comfort zones to produce something particularly special.” commented Ricciardo.
St Hugo DR3 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
94 Points
Drink 2021 – 2030
Of the two wines in the DR3 range, which is a collaboration between St Hugo Chief Winemaker Peter Munro and Formula One racing car driver Daniel Riccardio, this is my favourite. It is a superbly constructed and classic example of Coonawarra Cabernet that is showing primarily youthful fruit with just a touch of aged complexity starting to emerge, which suggests it will age well.
Deeply coloured, it is bursting with sweet blackcurrant and pine needle scented fruits that are compact, concentrated and supported by mocha oak. The palate is the essence of cool climate cabernet sauvignon – bright and fresh fruits underpinned by crisp acidity and chewy but well integrated tannins that help to drive a long, floral finish. Delicious now although at its best in 2030.
St Hugo DR3 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2014
92 Points
Drink 2021 – 2029
What do you get when you blend a Formula One racing car driver and a Barossa Valley icon – a delicious aged shiraz that is at its drinking peak. Matched up with a 2015 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, this is the first of a whole range of wines to emerge in the coming years with Daniel Ricciardo playing a role in not only choosing vineyards but also blending wines for the new DR3 range.
Deeply coloured, there is an impressive array of mulberry, cocoa and salt bush aromas with sweet oak in the background. It is then full flavoured and fleshy – ripe and generous blackberry, baked earth, soy sauce and black olive flavours are complimented by a dusting of white pepper supported by slightly firm tannins. It’s a wine at peak right now that will also drink well for the next 5 to 8 years.
