Deen De Bortoli Master Blend 2020

Deen De Bortoli Master Blend is a generous Australian red built around spicy Shiraz, rich Durif, structured Cabernet Sauvignon and a small splash of Montepulciano. Blueberry, dark fruit, caramel and dark chocolate lead the way, with firm but approachable tannins and a savoury, oak-shaped finish. The fruit comes from Heathcote, Riverina and Langhorne Creek, giving the blend plenty of regional character without losing its easygoing appeal. Created as part of the DEEN range in tribute to family patriarch Deen De Bortoli, it is a satisfying choice for lamb shanks, slow-cooked ragu or a classic Sunday roast.

What the winery says:

The fruit was picked in the cool of the morning to preserve freshness, with each variety and regional parcel kept separate during a cool fermentation lasting six to ten days. After pressing, the wine matured for 12 months in a combination of new and older French and American hogshead barrels. The finished wine is dry and deeply coloured, showing blueberry, dark chocolate and caramel aromas, followed by generous dark fruit and structuring tannins. It is also suitable for vegan and vegetarian drinkers.

What the experts say:

International Wine Challenge, 90 Points (2020)
“A very characterful wine with licorice, dark spicy cedar and graphite with hints of dried tomato and Worcester sauce characters, drying pencil shaving tannins.”