Lino Ramble Tom Bowler McLaren Vale Nero d’Avola 2014

A well packaged, clever Nero from Andy Coppard and Angela Townsend, this is biodynamically grown, hand harvested, open (wild) fermented, basket pressed and bottle unfined. 265 cases produced.

Dark red maroon, this carries the bitumen and scorched plum fruit of Nero with a McLaren Vale thickness; the milky oak palate is just a fraction jammy and warm but has good persistence before a slightly tarry, sticky finish.

Mid weight and varietal, this taps into that tarry viscosity of classic Nero, if just a little warm and raw for higher points. You could almost be in Sicily with those flavours though, which is a very good thing.

Details: 13.7%, Screwcap, $28 direct
Tasted: June 2015 (sample)
Best drinking: 2015-2024
Score: 17.5/20, 91/100
Would I buy it? I’d drink a glass
Buy online: Lino Ramble website