Nine Stones Shiraz Hilltops (75cl, 14%)

Nine Stones Shiraz Hilltops is a red wine made entirely from Shiraz grown in the Hilltops region of Southern New South Wales, Australia. Calabria Family Wines produces it from estate-grown fruit; the brand originated under the Evans Family before Calabria acquired it in 2010. The Hilltops sub-region sits atop a massive granite shelf, with deep topsoil of dark red clays impregnated with basalt and ironstone sand. The wine is vinified and bottled entirely on site. The nose shows boysenberry, plum, black cherry, chocolate-mint, oak spice and white pepper. The palate is generous with plum and black cherry, mild minerality, black olive and fine-grained tannins. The finish is long and supple, with plum, black pepper and gentle earthiness.