Tasting Notes
The wine
The 2014 vintage of this wine is amazing. When you first see the wine and its dark hue, you expect something much older and earthier. The Touriga Nacional grape from Portugal is more frequently seen in Port and is fairly tannic. However this is an amazingly fruity red wine.
It smells and tastes of blueberries, ripe plums and blackberries and has a hint of dark chocolate. It has refreshing acidity and the tannins are noticeable though not as high as might be expected.
I would never call a First Drop wine an everyday wine as they are all special but I can see what James Halliday means by "excellent casual consumption wine" - this is very easy to drink.
Food Pairing
Perfect for summer parties and barbecues, this wine will stand up well to charcoal-grilled and smoked meats. Most Touriga Nacional based wines are much fuller-bodied and go well with roasted red meats, game and hard cheeses; this is no exception but because of its lighter, fresh style it will also pair well with meat cooked in fruity sauces, roasted red peppers and mushroom-based dishes
And to cap it all this wine drinks beautifully on its own, a good all-rounder
Producer's Notes
"The Eusebio of the classic Portuguese varieties, Touriga Nacional is ideally suited to the maritime climate of McLaren Vale. A fast, lively red with a great right foot, this vinho do Vale is made for immediate enjoyment at all team events. We hope it kicks a goal for you"
Awards
94 points James Halliday Aug 2016
"Machine-picked from a single vineyard in Willunga, destemmed, closed fermentation, cultured yeast, 8 days on skins, fermentation finished and matured in French hogsheads. Matt Gant must be keeping the label printers of Adelaide busy at work, the main instruction to the designers that no two labels can look even remotely the same. Regardless, this is an attractively juicy wine, its red fruity flavours with mouthwatering acidity. Excellent casual consumption wine."
16.5 points Jancis Robinson Aug 2016
"Distinctively bright but plain label for First Drop. Clear-eyed deep crimson. Fabulous varietal character here – aromas of dark-red fruit and blueberry but minus the sweetness, a light perfumed smokiness that reminds me of the bergamot in Earl Grey tea – but very subtle. There might even be a hint of orange in this complex varietal aroma. On the palate, deep, firm, but still slides across the palate and best described as medium-bodied. They really know how to pull back on the accelerator and still create a wine full of flavour. As it opens up the smokiness increases giving it something like a mineral quality that plays well with the fruit."
