Zonte’s Footsteps Baron von Nemesis Barossa Shiraz 2024

Not even Ian Fleming came up with the name of a villain so absurdly wonderful as Baron von Nemesis. Quite what the poor wine did to deserve such humiliation, I have no idea. Still, you have to love a winemaking team that clearly has so much fun with their work. Fortunately, they make cracking wines, so they can get away with pretty much anything. Dark maroon with a purple rim, this is plush, approachable and generous with a velvety texture. Impressive length leads to satiny tannins, and the wine remains focused throughout. A slightly earthy style dominated by black fruits with bay leaves, mulberries, plums, mocha, cocoa powder, dried herbs and chocolate, there are hints of bitter almond on the finish. Thoroughly enjoyable and will continue to be for at least the next decade.