The Breaking Ground releases celebrate new moves in the viticultural space for Margan. The cuttings for Margan’s Barbera came from the Montrose vineyard in Mudgee, which in turn came to Australia in the suitcase of Carlo Corino. Easier to ask forgiveness than to seek permission. From the Ceres Hill vineyard in the Broek Fordwich sub region of the Hunter Valley.

Margan, Breaking Ground, Barbera, Hunter Valley, 2015

Damp tobacco, moist blackberries and cherries, chalk, varietal thick rose petals and drying tar. Fleshy, meaty body with a briny, ferrous oyster presence. Bursts of blood orange pips: both flavour and acidity. Fruit sweet enough to be swarthy but finishes with a wash of fine chalky tannins. Drinkability plus.

RRP; $40
Alc: 13.5%
Rating: 17/20

Wine sample courtesy of Margan Family Wines