The indomitable Kate “Don’t Call Me Katie” Giles has started working marketing this ‘new’ winery in the Barossa Valley and sent me these impressive bottles for a review. I thought she had sent me 6 bottles, such was the weight of package…but no, only 2. Thick glass indeed.

Dell’uva’s Wayne Farquhar spent many years travelling through Europe’s great wine regions and decided that Australian climate would be better suited to these Mediterranean varieties, so “returning to his conventionally planted vineyard located on the Western Ridge of the Barossa, and armed with a chainsaw, Wayne performed “delicate” surgery on his vines. He then spent the next 5 years selecting and importing a handpicked range of rootstocks, emerging varieties and clones from Italy, Spain, Portugal and France” and now Dell’uva claims to be “home to the largest collection of the emerging red varieties in Australia.”

It certainly is one Hell of a start…..

Dell’uva Tempranillo/Garnacha, 2012

Screwcap. Cherries, blood plums, raspberry jam and the rest of the gamut of dark red berries. Coconut fleshy oak. Mouth coating attack of tannins, followed by tight red berry fruit. Dusty and blocky and yet to meld together, the profile tipping in favour of the tannins for the moment. Noticeable acidity spiking through also. Needs time to get where it’s going…but I don’t know where that is.

RRP: $24

Alc: 14%

Dell’uva Montepulciano, 2012

Cork. Heavy bottle. I mean ridonkulously heavy. Good cork (thank the pernickety cork gods) and the wine opens up to reveal big plums, pretty violets, choc oak topped with a touch of camphor spice. The palate is unmistakeably Barossan. Full bodied, fleshy plummy jubey purple fruit with that vanilla/choc oak soft ‘doona’ pulled over its head. Good supporting tannins finish things out. Is it a Montepulciano….or just a good Barossa red wine?

RRP: $35

Alc: 13.5%

Both wines samples courtesy of Dell’uva Wines