And now for something different, yet familiar feeling. Hello Australian Saint Laurent!

Larry from Hahndorf Hill has a smorgasbord of Austrian varieties in his patch in the Adelaide Hills, with Gruner the most famous but also Zwieglent & Blaufrankisch. Larry is a great and interesting guy, with all sorts of projects on the go – including bringing local Saint Laurent to life.

There is always a bit of blue fruits in a Saint Laurent (or Sankt Laurent if we’re doing it Austrian style). Blue fruit and silken flavours, and this Hahndorf Hill The Foundling Saint Laurent 2020 has both. It feels ripe for the alcohol, though, to the point where it feels quite slick and modern. There is a nice, moderate, purple and blue fruited wine though, in a mode that wouldn’t feel out of place if you drink a fair bit of ripe cool clime Pinot or Mencia. Seduction plus. There’s just a little back of my brain feeling that this is a bit too coiffed in oak and modernity, but no questioning the quality or interest. It’s just great to see this tbh!

Best drinking: nowish, no hurry. 13%, $65. 17.7/20, 92/100. Hahndorf Hill website. Would I buy it? Worth a glass on intrigue alone. But it’s already sold out…