WINE OF THE WEEK: Yangarra Estate Vineyard Noir 2021, McLaren Vale, Australia

£26–£26.55, London End Wines, Vinvm, Simply Wines Direct

I’m not sure exactly why this gleaming ruby coloured Australian wine is called Noir, but the main grape variety in the blend is Grenache Noir and Yangarra describes the wine as ‘a progressive take on a French classic’. The classic in question is red Châteauneuf-du-Pape, so you can see where they’re coming from with the name.

As for the wine, it makes the case compellingly, with its rose hip and spice fragrance, briary, raspberry fruit, stony, sweet earth notes, luxuriously silky texture and bright, fresh finish – and the freshness and silk-smooth tannins mean that it will still be drinking perfectly in three years’ time.

The other five varieties in the 2021 are Carignan (20%), Mourvèdre (16%), Cinsault (14%), Shiraz (aka Syrah, 13%) and Counoise (5%), which, to save you doing the math(s), leaves 32% for the Grenache. The varieties, handled separately until final blending, were destemmed and wild-yeast fermented with 50% whole berries. Ageing was in older French oak for seven months.

Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise are unusual in Australia, but Yangarra, in Blewitt Springs on the northern border of McLaren Vale, is a single-vineyard, biodynamic estate (90ha under vine) dedicated to southern Rhône grape varieties, white as well as red. The particular growing conditions, which include a Mediterranean climate, high altitude and ancient geology, are well suited to these varieties.

The 2021 Noir would make a lovely Easter lunch wine, whether you’re having lamb, pork, beef or kid (roast, barbecued or slow cooked), duck or roast chicken, a mushroom stew or other vegetarian feast. It also goes well with the South African Cape Malay dish bobotie, a hearty minced meat-based dish cooked with curry spices, onions, dried fruit, almonds, chutney and an egg and milk topping (which I wrote about in The World of Fine Wine last month). 14%. Empty bottle weight: 557g

Yangarra Estate Vineyard Noir 2021, McLaren Vale, Australia

£26–£26.55, London End Wines, Vinvm, £149.94 for 6, Simply Wines Direct

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