2023 THE EMPTY QUARTER

2023 DUNE The Empty Quarter is a blend of shiraz / grenache / mataro along with a small amount of touriga nacional.

A medium bodied wine of fragrance and substance.

Glossy purple fruits, mulberry and dark cherry, sweet sage flower lift balanced with savoury notes of aniseed, cured meats, with some white pepper lift. The palate is juicy to start with blue and dark fruits, plum and blueberry, a little dark cocoa, fine and long tannins, supple and succulent. 

"A blend of shiraz, mataro, grenache, touriga nacional and cinsault, picked at the same time and co-fermented; about 12 months in seasoned oak. Year on year, this offers such exceptional value. The varieties, though all dedicated contributors, somewhat fall away here, which is testimony to the cohesion of the wine. It’s medium weight, cut through with ferrous mineral notes, blue/purple florals, cracked pepper and warmed whole spices. Blue and red fruit notes fill the palate, along with fermented salami and dried woody herbs. Such a beautiful balance of the savoury and the vibrant; made for the table. 95 points"
Marcus Ellis, Wine Companion

"Such a pleasing wine to drink. Blue and purple fruit, coal dust and ozone, sage and thyme, some dried flowers, pastrami and aniseed. It’s medium-bodied, has a distinctly ‘mineral’ feel to it, with fine dusty and peppery tannin, a quiet juicy blueberry succulence, and it’s also quite savoury, bresaola and Spanish black olive, I reckon, with a gently sticky and tactile finish of excellent length. Fresh. Spicy. Yum. 94 points"
Gary Walsh - Winefront

"Aromas of blackberry compote, coffee beans, bitter chocolate and blood plums. The palate is nicely weighted with a medium-bodied mouthfeel and fine-grained tannins. A solid, fresh and vibrant blend of shiraz, mataro and grenache. Drink or hold. 92 points"
JamesSuckling.com