Australia - McLaren Vale

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Featured Wine - Sangiovese blend "The Mongrel" Hugh Hamilton Estate 2008

As the name suggests this is an unusual blend of three disparate grape varieties all grown on the Hamilton Estate. This is an exciting blend that combines intensity and delicacy in bouquet and flavour. Sangiovese is the Italian variety native to Tuscany and makes up 85% of the blend. Merlot, the French variety, and Tempranillo the Spanish grape, are in the proportion of 10% and 5% respectively. It is the Sangiovese that dominates the blend in bouquet, flavour and structure. The other two varieties add body, complexity and interest to the blend. With a multi-cultural heritage like that it’s no wonder we call this wine “The Mongrel”. The colour is a deep cherry red, and the aroma has a mushroom-truffle character, with a suggestion of spice. The palate is young and vibrant and shows the soft texture and the influence of a short exposure to new oak barriques. This is a stylish, medium weighted wine with a bold flavour and a persistent finish. The attractive structure and soft tannins make the wine an ideal partner to a wide variety of foods, especially pasta and spicy dishes. When the sun is shining and the mercury is rising serve it slightly chilled. The Mongrel is a crazy ensemble that works.