What Ned said:

"This is no mere generic Barossa bruiser, but a slick production by senior estate Chateau Tanunda. It fits: colour veers to black, perfume is high toned cassis, vanilla, even cigar box; it's sublimely savoury and lithe in its darkness of berry fruits, with the Merlot playing a clear role in plumping the Cabernet muscle; 14.5% alcohol. Try with roast beef - and no worries, this wine will cope. comfortably with horseradish sauce"

Top marks and a very descriptive write up from Ned on this one and he’s clearly impressed. Unfortunately I couldn’t get the 2016 vintage and had to settle with the 2017 but it also didn’t disappoint. You can pick this little gem up from Sainsbury’s for £11 right now and it represents excellent value for money.

It had been a while since I’d had anything from Barossa so I was quite excited to taste this. Thankfully, it was worth the wait! Youthful, inky purple in the glass with a very good clean nose of blackcurrant and plum that included hints of tobacco smokiness. Full bodied and velvety in the mouth with the dark fruits coming through nicely. A nice creamy, vanilla finish as it went down too that lingered long after I’d swallowed and left me wanting more. The alcohol is almost syruppy if you give it a good swirl and watch it run down the glass and at 14.5% abv I’m not surprised.

A fantastic little wine that deserves its plaudits though I’m not so sure I’d give it a 10 overall. It’s more like a 9 for me. A cracker nonetheless and part of a very strong showing from Sainsbury’s in this year’s Best Wines in the Supermarket.

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