Okay, you’re going to have to ignore the bottle image for this post. It reads 2019 and the regions aren’t quite right, but that’s all that’s changed. Down to brass tacks: A blend of Freeman’s Hilltops vineyard and the Will’s Hill vineyard in Pokolbin (Hunter).
Essentially a barrel blend designed to be fun loving and a crowd favourite. Alcohol has dropped from previous releases but doesn’t forsake flesh and favour.

Gundog Estate, Smoking Barrel Red, Shiraz, Hunter Valley, Hilltops, 2021

Bruise purple with bright rim. Pink peppercorn, baked rhubarb, woody clove, spiced oak, a little ferrous meaty steak, caked dust, choc coated raspberries, plum jam and a touch of kirsch. Cheeky and attractive. Fleshy without being overbearing. Constrained to behave with a fine dusty finish, but not before offering plenty of plump fun up front. There’s no doubting the quality of the fruit, make no mistake that this isn’t an afterthought, but there’s no misunderstanding its target.

RRP: $35
Alc: 13.5%
Rating: 17.75/20 (91/100)

Wine sample courtesy of Gundog Estate