2022 Giaconda Nantua Les Deux Shiraz, Beechworth

Giaconda Nantua Les Deux Shiraz from Beechworth is a dark-fruited, savoury and finely chiselled expression that brings Rick Kinzbrunner’s meticulous winemaking into a more approachable style than the rare Estate releases, while still carrying that unmistakable Giaconda DNA. The fruit is sourced from Beechworth’s elevated granite slopes, where low yielding vines and cool evenings maintain natural acidity and build slow ripening flavour intensity. Wild fermentation, gentle extraction and ageing in quality French oak give the wine structure and polish without masking the vineyard’s savoury voice.

The nose delivers an evocative mix of blackberry and mulberry alongside black cherry, violets and cracked pepper. As it unfurls, there are deeper notes of smoked meats, graphite, dried herbs and a faint earthy mineral thread drawn straight from granite soils. Oak provides subtle spice and cedar warmth, but everything is built around fruit purity.

The palate shows power and restraint at once. Concentrated dark berries glide through supple but insistent tannins, lifted by fresh acidity. Fine layers of cocoa, star anise, charcuterie and black olive tapenade add savoury drama, while a long structured finish leaves echoes of spice and cool stone minerality. It can be enjoyed now with a proper decant or matured for a decade or more to develop further complexity.

A brilliant match for roast lamb shoulder, duck with black cherry, chargrilled ribeye, mushroom ragù or aged pecorino. This is Beechworth Shiraz with detail, nervy energy and a touch of Giaconda magic.