Colonial Estate Emigre Red (75cl, 15.5%)

A premium six-varietal red blend from Barossa Valley, South Australia, bottled at approximately 14.5-15.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. The Colonial Estate was founded by Jonathan Maltus, also behind Château Teyssier in Saint-Émilion. Grapes come from four estate vineyards yielding less than one ton per acre, handpicked into trays and double-sorted. The blend is Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Muscadelle, with cold pre-maceration, delestages and pigeage, extended maceration and ageing in French oak barrels. The nose opens with spicy red berries and dusty mineral tones, then espresso, smoke, fresh flowers, underbrush and blackberry liqueur. The palate brings black cherry and cassis with a black olive savoury character, deeper black and blue fruit with chewy tannins, and a cedary, pencil-shaving quality with mint. The finish is long and brooding, with dark berry and cherry, fine-grained tannins, a mineral edge and espresso bitterness.