2022 Mount Horrocks Nero D'Avola Organic, Clare Valley

A very good nero d'Avola expression with classic cherry fruit set amongst licorice, alpine herb and sweet turned earth characters in both the bouquet and palate. It sits around medium weight and feels well trimmed by the weave of al dente tannin, the finish a touch savoury with a rub of walnut nuttiness and some more alpine herb character. Nero can often be quite rambunctious; this feels distinctly elegant, but quintessential.

94 points Mike Bennie winecompanion.com.au

Wonderful Sicily-inspired Nero D’Avola – a wine with moderate weight, juicy fruit and lively tannins.

Hand harvested grapes are cold-oaked prior to a seven day ferment with daily plunging to ensure ideal colour, flavour and gentle tannin extraction. The wine then spends twelve months maturation in French oak barriques (20% of which are new) prior to bottling and being held for eight months prior to release.

Light, bright red, the colour belies the fruit intensity in the glass. Super aromatic, generous scents of violets, cherry and raspberry, with hints of white pepper. Similarly generous in the mouth, this might be medium-bodied and relatively soft in tannin terms, but its fragrant, crunchy juiciness enhances its appeal, with a smart balance of fruit and oak, bright acidity and lovely mouthfeel. Dangerously easy to drink now, will age comfortably to a decade though.