D’Arenberg The Footbolt Syrah 2022

The Footbolt is one of D'Arenberg's longest-running reds, a McLaren Vale Shiraz named after the racehorse founder Joseph Osborn sold in 1912 to buy the estate. McLaren Vale, on the South Australian coast, has a warm Mediterranean climate that ripens Shiraz fully, giving the dark fruit, warmth and pepper-spice that define warm-climate Syrah, while the cooling sea breeze off Gulf St Vincent retains freshness and lift. The fruit is farmed organically. Ageing in oak rounds the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adds a frame of spice without burying the fruit. The colour is deep purple-red. The nose shows ripe plum, blackberry and red berries with black pepper, dried herbs and clove. The palate is full bodied with ripe, supple tannins, warm alcohol and a long, peppery finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant young bottles for half an hour. It is a robust match for grilled and roast meats and richly flavoured dishes.