2023 Nick Spencer Light Dry Red, Gundagai

This is exquisite. It’s a delicacy. It’s fine and floral and spicy and berried, its flavours built on acidity, its nuances intricate. This is the polar opposite of the smack-you-in-the-face red wine style. It’s just itself, light to medium in weight, of the garden, summer berries glancing over at autumn, some apple to the acidity, its charm somewhere between studied and neglected. It won’t be everyone’s cuppa I guess, you have to slow down and take a listen to it, but for me personally this wine brings joy into the room.

94 points Campbell Mattinson winefront.com.au

Inspired by the Australian ‘Burgundies’ of the 50’s 60’s and 70’s. The Light Dry Red pays homage to the Classic light bodied Shiraz and Shiraz/ Pinot blends mastered by Maurice O’Shea.

Nick Spencer Light Dry Red from Gundagai is a vibrant and seriously drinkable red that brings freshness, finesse, and modern Australian charm to the table. Crafted by Nick Spencer—known for his thoughtful, terroir-driven approach—this wine reinterprets the classic Aussie red blend with a lighter touch and a nod to the old-school Claret style, but with way more lift and drinkability.

Sourced from high-altitude vineyards in the cool reaches of Gundagai in New South Wales, the wine is a blend of Shiraz and Pinot Noir, with occasional support from other red varieties depending on the vintage. The elevated sites and granitic soils give the wine a natural brightness and fine tannin profile, making it ideal for crafting a juicy red with aromatic lift and real structure beneath the charm.

Fruit is handpicked and fermented with wild yeasts, using a mix of whole bunches and whole berries to create texture and aromatic complexity. It is matured in old French oak to round out the palate without imparting heavy oak influence. The result is a wine that’s light in body but long in flavour—bright, spicy, and energetic.

In the glass, it opens with red cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, pepper, and dried herbs, with a touch of earthy spice. The palate is supple and fresh, with crunchy red fruit, silky tannins, and a savoury finish that keeps you reaching for another glass. It’s light, but not simple. There’s real detail here, just delivered with restraint and joy.

Perfect slightly chilled with charcuterie, grilled sausages, or roast duck, Nick Spencer’s Light Dry Red is a clever blend that offers both refreshment and substance.