2023 Angullong Fossil Hill Tempranillo, Orange

An exotically spiced, true-to-varietal wine. It opens with blackberries, sage leaf and wine gums. Crushed cardamom, juniper berries and black peppercorn. You’ll find the granite and tar but also a core of ripe black cherry and boysenberry, too. Tannins are sappy and will allow the wine to have some staying power in the cellar. Angullong continue their reputation for well-made alternate reds. A bright, enticing wine.

95 points Special Value Shanteh Wale winecompanion.com.au

Angullong Fossil Hill Tempranillo is a vibrant and expressive cool-climate take on Spain’s noble red grape, grown in the high-altitude vineyards of Orange, New South Wales. At elevations ranging from 600 to 650 metres on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, Angullong’s estate vineyards benefit from long, sunlit days and cool evenings—conditions that suit Tempranillo beautifully, allowing it to ripen fully while retaining its hallmark freshness, savoury structure and spice.

The Fossil Hill range is all about showcasing site and varietal character, and this Tempranillo offers a distinctive Australian interpretation of the style. The ancient, fossil-rich soils impart a subtle mineral edge, while the cool climate brings precision and tension to the fruit. Hand-harvested fruit is fermented in small batches with gentle extraction to preserve purity and texture, followed by ageing in a combination of seasoned French and American oak barrels to round out the tannins and add complexity.

In the glass, it opens with aromas of black cherry, red plum and blueberry, layered with sweet tobacco, mocha, dried herbs and a hint of cedar. The palate is medium-bodied and plush yet structured, with fine-grained tannins, juicy acidity and a savoury, earthy finish. It balances bold fruit with lifted aromatics and gentle spice, making it both food friendly and highly drinkable.

Pair it with Spanish favourites like lamb albondigas, chorizo and chickpea stew, or jamón ibérico. It’s also excellent with grilled meats, mushroom paella, eggplant parmigiana or a simple rosemary lamb roast. A short decant will bring out its more savoury tones, and while it drinks beautifully young, it has the structure to age gracefully over five to eight years.

Angullong’s Tempranillo continues to gain attention from critics and sommeliers alike for its character, varietal authenticity and cool-climate finesse. It stands out as one of the region’s leading examples of Tempranillo, reflecting both the promise of the Orange wine region and the versatility of this Iberian grape on Australian soil.