2023 Juxtaposed Sangiovese, McLaren Vale

A Canadian snowboarder who took a restaurant job in Whistler for thirteen years to keep his days free for the slopes — before wine took over entirely. A degree in wine biochemistry, an internship at Château Léoville Las Cases in Bordeaux and a PhD later, Wes Pearson arrived in McLaren Vale via an unlikely route in 2008 and now works as a Senior Sensory Scientist at the Australian Wine Research Institute. Fancy. His label Juxtaposed launched in 2011 is the other side of his professional life: where the research world demands precision and process, the winery demands feel and instinct. The name captures both. A Len Evans Tutorial alumnus, Wes focuses on single vineyard Grenache and Shiraz from across McLaren Vale, sourcing from growers whose stories he considers as much a part of the wine as the fruit itself.

This Sangiovese comes from the McMurtrie Vineyard in McLaren Vale. The site is planted to Brunello clones of Sangiovese Grosso known for darker fruit and more structured tannins than the lighter iterations of the variety. On skins for 12 days before pressing to large format oak barrels. The winemaking is deliberately restrained, letting the vineyard and variety speak without oak imposing on either.

McLaren Vale Sangiovese shows the warmth of the region, filling out the mid-palate while the variety's natural acidity keeps everything focused. Dark cherry, dried herbs and a savoury earthiness on the nose with a supple, medium-bodied palate and fine, persistent tannins.

Italianate food is the natural companion: a slow-braised wild boar ragù with pappardelle, or a simple pizza bianca with aged pecorino and good olive oil.

Drink now through 2028.