Tenefeate Creek Black Top Creek 2009

The region here is noted as ‘One Tree Hill’, which isn’t an official wine Australian wine region in the scheme of things but does have some grapegrowing history. Geographically it sits in no-mans land between the Barossa and Adelaide Hills, though technically it sits in the ‘Adelaide zone’. Nothing particularly sexy about just ‘Adelaide’ on your label, however.

An unusually proportioned blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this is black and licoricey, with plenty of the tarry concentration seen in some of the Barossan 09s. What is impressive is the tannins, which are ballsy and long and thickly laid on. If only it had a little more freshness this would be a star, but for the moment it remains a little blanced for big love.

Drink: 2013-2023
Score: 16.5/20, 88/100
Would I buy it? No.