Eldorado Road Quasimodo Nero d’Avola Shiraz Durif 2016

Eldorado Road Quasimodo Nero d’Avola Shiraz Durif 2016

There have been some nervous moments for NE Victorian vignerons in recent weeks, with massive bushfires bearing down on multiple fronts. The predicted rain due over the next week is welcome for all…

I’m off on a tangent I know given that a) I’m talking about a 2016 vintage red and b) Beechworth/Eldorado was a way off the firefronts. But not hard to feel the collective anxiety for so many producers crowded over an RFS /CFA map wishing fires away.

Now, Eldorado Road remains a favourite producer here at Graham HQ with consistent results. Even the serious rosé makes the grade. This blend includes Nero d’Avola from the home vineyard at Eldorado, Shiraz from a granite soil vineyard 5 minutes away and Durif from Rutherglen.

There’s a mark here of the drying 2016 vintage, but balanced by deft ripeness. It’s dark fruited and bold with flashes of glacé, but so ably held that you just end up with dark berry lusciousness which gets darker and denser as the palate traverses.

Powerful NE Vic red that is nearly perfectly ripe, this is BBQ red that sneaks up on you, looking more menacing every moment. Best drinking: you could wait and more may come. But no need to hesitate. Will live for a decade. 17.8/20, 92/100. 13.4%, $28. Would I buy it? Charisma for this price? I’ll take a bottle.