Chalk Hill Tempranillo Grenache 2015, McLaren Vale, Australia

Chalk Hill Tempranillo Grenache is a McLaren Vale red from the Harvey family, who have been growing grapes in South Australia for six generations. It blends Spain’s Tempranillo with Grenache, a variety with a long history in McLaren Vale, drawn from the family’s vineyards spread across the region, where soils range from alluvial and red-brown loams to clay and sandstone over limestone. Winemaker Renae Hirsch takes a minimal-intervention approach in the cellar, aiming to show the character of each variety, of the region and of the individual vineyards.

In the glass it is a deep red. The nose is lifted and aromatic, with red berries, floral notes, Turkish delight and red liquorice, along with earthy leather, spice and a background of pepper. The medium-bodied palate offers raspberry, mulberry and pomegranate fruit with warm spice and dried herbs, held together by lively acidity and fine tannins.

Serve at around 16–18°C. Its red fruit and gentle spice suit tapas, chorizo, grilled lamb, barbecued meats, slow-cooked stews and hard cheeses. This wine already has some bottle age, so enjoy it now rather than keeping it for longer.

Chalk Hill is a family winery in McLaren Vale, South Australia, run by the Harvey family, whose wine story began when John Harvey arrived in South Australia in 1839 and became one of the first to plant vines north of Adelaide. Today the business is led by sixth-generation brothers Tom and Jock Harvey: Tom runs Chalk Hill Wines, while Jock, a viticulturist, set up the family’s vineyard contracting business, Chalk Hill Viticulture. The family started out as grape growers supplying leading Australian wineries, keeping back a little fruit each year to make wine as gifts, until demand turned it into a wine business. Their vineyards are spread across McLaren Vale, including the Chalk Hill vineyard planted in 1969, and the wines are made by Renae Hirsch.