2022 Coriole Montepulciano, McLaren Vale

From two sites, this is matured mainly in older oak, with 20% 2 to 3 years old. Montepulciano can easily be rendered in an inky and saturated way. Not so here, with savouriness taking the wheel, though there’s generosity, too. Plum, cherry, both black and maraschino, blackberry and olive sit with dried herbs, tobacco, bay laurel and spice notes, including clove and mace. One of the charms of the Italian reds at this address is the pitch and tension of structure. There are no pooling sweet spots, but the fruit is there, enmeshed. This is very good.

93 points Special Value Marcus Ellis winecompanion.com.au

Montepulciano was first planted at Coriole back in 2001. We love the variety for its rich intensity and lovely array of savoury characters to balance the dark cherry fruit. Montepulciano is late ripening and often the last variety we pick. We use fruit from both our Coriole and Willunga vineyards. At Coriole, the vines are grown on terra rossa which gives the wine a more structural element, whereas fruit from Willunga has richer flavour and generosity.

Coriole was founded by Hugh and Molly Lloyd in 1967, and they released their first wine in 1969. The Estate is still owned by the Lloyd family and is now managed by Mark and Paul Lloyd. Coriole is situated in the undulating hills of the densely planted McLaren Vale region just within sight of the sea and less than an hour from Adelaide.The original farmhouses were built in 1860 and are now the epicentre of the garden and cellar door at the winery. The original vineyards were planted in 1919.