2015 A T Richardson Hard Hill Road Durif, Great Western

95 pts - James Halliday, Wine Companion 2018

Machine-harvested, 4 days cold soak, open-fermented in small batches with cultured yeast, matured in American oak (50% new) for 12 months. Dense crimson-purple; a strange place for durif to bob up in, except for Adam Richardson's experience with the variety in the US (there called petit syrah). This is as good as durif comes in disciplined form, the extract controlled, black fruits have a distinct spicy savoury edge, and the tannins are fine, oak unimportant.