Alex Beckett, Marnong Estate’s winemaker has plenty of experience with alternative varieties for the well regarded Briar Ridge in Hunter Valley’s Pokolbin, and now stamps his mark on the outskirts of Melbourne. This wine sees a mix of old oak and stainless steel maturation.

Marnong Estate, Single Vineyard, Montepulciano, Sunbury, 2025

Deep garnet. Raspberry flesh, chocolate, baked cheesecake, kitchen herbs, cassis and blackberry flesh, plum tea cake and black jelly beans. Silky fruit up front in that herbed/black anise tinged spectrum before welcome toothsome tannins. Neat and balanced tail with good length.

RRP: $37
Alc: 13.8%
Rating: 91/100

Wine sample courtesy of Marnong Estate and Dialogue PR