Just landed – We only get a couple of shipments of this wine a year and they usually sell out quite quickly.
Over the last few years Three Bridges Durif from the Riverina region of Australia, has picked up an almost cult following. It is big, bold, powerful, and intensely concentrated, with brooding aromas of black fruits and dark chocolate. The palate is on the rich and weighty side, but not over-the-top, with the tannins and dusty oak balancing the fruit and alcohol nicely.
Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"An aromatic blood plum and wild cherry nose with an array of violets, mocha and vanilla biscuit. An intense, full bodied palate of plums, mulberries and cherries, complemented by American oak sweetness, and an elegant tannin structure of support and power.
The parcels of fruit were carefully selected from the highest quality Riverina vineyards. Upon arrival the fruit was crushed and de-stemmed into open top Stainless-steel fermenters and then thoroughly pumped over twice each day throughout a slow fermentation lasting 7 – 8 days. After primary fermentation, the wine is barrelled down to 100% American oak Hogsheads and Barriques, to mature for 12 months before blending.
Durif is a red wine originally sourced from France. The berries produced are small and concentrated and performs best in warm, sunny areas and that is why Calabria Wines has so much success with it. The wine produced is full flavoured with intense colour & high tannins & will age well."
Reviews for previous vintages below…
17/20 & Very Good Value, Tamlyn Currin, JancisRobinson.com, May 2022 (2020 Vintage)
"Dark jam, coffee liqueur, coffeed dark chocolate, cassis. It’s a dark wine with plenty of sweet-spice impact from the American oak (chocolate, coconut, smoky-bourbon-like toffee notes) but I didn’t find it nearly as big as Norbiato suggested. In fact, it seems to come with reasonable restraint. The tannins are broad, sturdy, but polished. The fruit is ripe and sweet but not jammy. The finish has a pencil strip of graphite-grippy freshness that draws it into bold length. Superb balance. I cannot believe that this wine is £10.99 – is this the trade price?"
92/100 Toni Paterson MW, The Real Review, June 2019 (2017 Vintage)
"If you love durif you will find this a most excellent and satisfying example. Yes, it is a big wine, but what sets it apart from the pack is its brightness. It is laden with boysenberry and mulberry flavours, with oak adding accents of vanilla and spice. It is full in body, but not syrupy or viscous in any way. The tannins have been managed beautifully."
5 Stars & 94/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, February 2018 (2016 Vintage)
"Powerful and gloriously fruited, the bouquet shows blackberry jam, blueberry, vanilla, cedar and chocolate tart characters, leading to a concentrated palate that is plush and opulent. The wine is dense and velvety, and offers terrific drinking. At its best: now to 2024."