Wine: Nine Popes
Winemaker: Charles Melton
Vintage: 2010
Varietal: Shiraz 60% Grenache 30% Mouvedre 10%
Price: £29.99

An absolute stonker from the marvellous Mr. Melton. This Barossan beauty is a wine to be savoured, it's truly world class!

The nose is alive with black cherry, damson, chocolate, vanilla and a raw earthy note rounding off the bouquet beautifully and on the palate it's more of the same, with dark berries chucked into the mix, as well as liquorice, cloves and spices. Incredibly powerful and intense, with a masculinity to rival any big red out there; think Chateauneuf-de-Pape on steroids, but with a warmer climate influence, making it immediately more approachable.

Full bodied, bone dry, deep crimson in colour, medium plus acidity, medium plus intensity and a gloriously silky finish. Pair with fillet of beef or game pie and make sure you give this wine plenty of time to breathe.

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