Fiuza Winery is located in south-central Portugal, and their tasty Escriba Reserva red blend features the indigenous varietals Touriga Nacional and Sousão.
Deeply coloured and medium- to full-bodied, this is a generous wine with flavours of black cherry, plum and blackberry. Rich and smooth with a silky mouthfeel, the Escriba is enlivened with light acidity and hints of sweet spices and mocha.
This would be a good choice to serve with venison, steak or a richly sauced pasta dish. It’s fairly priced at $21.
Proudly sited on the Golden Mile Bench south of Oliver, Hester Creek Estate Winery continues to up their game.
Their 2022 Syrah, which just won Gold and 92 points at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, is a refined, Rhône-style wine that includes a splash of Viognier to add some tasty floral notes. Deep garnet in colour, this oak-aged beauty has flavours of cassis, plum, cherry and blueberry that presents with a velvety smooth texture and lots of intensity. Pair with a garlicky rack of lamb.
A tasty splurge at $31, it’s lovely now but will age for several more years.
Sourced from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southeastern France, the Paul Mas Viognier ($20) is an appealing example of this lesser-known white varietal.
Silky smooth, aromatic and medium-bodied, it reveals notes of peach, apricot and melon on the palate, accompanied by refreshing touches of citrus and a hint of honey overlaying a layer of minerality.
Soft in the mouth and offering moderate acidity, this refreshing wine is complex and rich. It would be equally tasty with a pesto-crusted salmon fillet, spicy dishes or a richly sauced pork dish.
Once a minor blending grape in Bordeaux, Carmenere emigrated to Chile where it has become a signature varietal and a notable success.
Case in point is the Falernia Carmenere Gran Reserva, a silky delight whose very ripe fruit evokes raspberry, black cherry, cassis, and blackberry.
Their Italian winemaker employs the appassimento method, with 60 per cent of the grapes dried on the vine to concentrate sugars and enhance flavour, with results both savoury and full-bodied. Spicy and earthy notes add extra charm to a wine well worth $23.
All prices include tax.
