2024 Heirloom Touriga, McLaren Vale

Heirloom Vineyards Touriga, from McLaren Vale, is a bold, deeply coloured red that offers a unique and expressive alternative to the usual suspects. Touriga Nacional, best known as a key variety in Portuguese Port and dry reds from the Douro Valley, thrives in McLaren Vale’s warm, Mediterranean climate. In Heirloom’s hands, it becomes something quite special — richly aromatic, structured, and full of character, but without overwhelming weight.

The fruit is hand picked and handled gently in small open fermenters. Fermentation with wild yeasts is followed by maturation in older French oak to build texture and polish without obscuring the varietal’s perfume and energy.

The nose is striking: violet, blueberry, dried herbs, black cherry and cocoa. On the palate it’s full bodied and vibrant, showing dark fruit, liquorice, graphite and subtle spice. There’s real grip and tannin structure here, but it’s refined rather than rustic, and a thread of acidity gives the wine lift and balance through a long, savoury finish.

Food pairing: excellent with slow cooked lamb, chargrilled chorizo, smoky eggplant dishes or rich mushroom ragù. Also great with hard cheeses and spiced lentil stews.

Cellar potential: best over the next 10 to 12 years, softening and gaining earthy complexity with time.