Balgownie ‘Goldfields’ Shiraz Viognier (Bendigo, Vic)
Screwcap, $24.95

The last of the Balgownie’s to pass my way, this is quite a lovely red and worth its $25 price point.

Its a dense, purpley, red ink red. The nose has a little volatility over some regional mint, spicy licorice, mint chocolate and red earth, there is even some funky meatiness deep in the nose too.

Its a lovely, perfumed nose with the Viognier appearing to soften the Bendigo spearmint character. Definitely more feminine than the Cabernet Merlot.

The palate is quite rounded in profile, with a mouthful of carefully oaked, medium weight Victorian Shiraz with that brilliant cocoa chocolate fruit-and-oak character that I associate with the Shiraz from Best’s in the Grampians. Its brilliantly smooth and seriously seductive. The only distraction is that there is a ‘day old Beef & Mustard sandwich’ character somewhere deep in the palate that i first noticed on the nose that tastes worryingly like oxidising Viognier.

Still, this is one very attractive wine, with old vines and smart winemaking at play. Cracking value to boot. 17.5