Coonawarra Cab Sauv for $10. A “clean skin” initiative from Fourth Wave Wine that focuses on “less packaging is awesome for the world” to reduce the carbon footprint for the wines. The wine is bottled in the lightest commercially available bottles (330gms empty) and made from glass company Orora’s “rejects.” No label on the carton or bottle: Just a printed collar and a cap with a QR code with the stuff it needs (even the new coloured pregnancy warning). Don’t look for a vintage year (even on the Crate site launched by the QR code), but hunting on the Fourth Wave Wine site unearths 2021. Made by Corey Ryan.

Crate Wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, 2021

Deep garnet.  Smells like Coonawarra: dusty violets over little eucalypt leaves and cassis. Just chomped cigar and turned earth wrapped in chocolatey oak. Modern style with a fuller expression of black fruit richness tempered with a touch of leafy bramble and tart black olive. Tannins are a little green with a tacky dryness and a tart cut. Deserving of a lamb casserole on a cool night.

RRP: $59.99 (per 6 pack)
Alc: 14%
Rating: 16.75/20 (87/100)

Wine sample courtesy of Fourth Wave Wine