Weathercraft Beechworth Reserve Tempranillo 2021

‘Similar meticulous management as the Syrah, with handpicking, lower yields, and regulated deficit irrigation. 15% whole bunch. Initial cold soak. Wild fermentation. 3 weeks on skins post-alcoholic fermentation. Aged in a mix of French and American oak (barriques and puncheons), with 10% new oak for 18 months.’

I first tried the 2021 Temp at a tasting in Beechworth in May 2024 and instantly liked it, so it was great to then get a bottle to sit down with and take some time to get to know it. There’s really a lot to love about it, which starts with the complex and ebullient nose: mulberry, cassis, raspberry, black cherry, heaps of spice, vanilla, dried red and black fruits, tobacco leaf, and leather. The fruit is resonant on the palate, with mouth-watering acidity, and rich, concentrated flavours. It’d be a worthy alternative to many Spanish Temps, so it’ll be nice to see how it develops over the next five to ten years.