DAN'S WINE BLOG- THIS WEEK'S WINE REVIEW

#LAGREIN is an Italian native variety that comes from the Trentino/Alto Adige region of Northern Italy, where it produces deeply coloured, tightly flavoured, delightful wines that need some time to evolve and open up to show at their very best. They have been described by famous wine critics as being – tannic, with sour plums, herbaceous, earthy with bitter cherries and some chocolate.

Since its arrival here in Australia, 40 growers (thus far) have taken this variety on and either produce it as a straight varietal wine or use it as a booster in other varieties which can be a bit insipid in hot vintages.

With the extra sunshine that Australian regions get over that of its native Trentino/Alto Adige, our LAGREIN are a bit less acidic with a greater degree/depth of ripeness and richness of flavour than the Italian ones.

I have recently written an article on LAGREIN (see #WBM magazine, “Here Comes Lagrein Again”, Nov-Dec 2019 issue) in which I mentioned the excellent 2016 and 2017 LAGREIN from #Langhorne Creek’s, #HOFER FAMILY WINES. Today I am writing about their new release the, HOFER 2018 LANGHORNE CREEK LAGREIN.

This is a cracker wine with great deep inky colour, almost black. It has a vibrant bouquet with deep red berry aromas, quite complex, very appealing and with a dash of earthiness. The palate is gorgeous, rich, round, amply flavoured with a tight, grippy finish that makes it a great food wine now. It will soften off and round out to become a great standalone drink in 3-5 years’ time – if you have the patience! Otherwise decant it and enjoy it now.

I can thoroughly recommend this wine, along with the 2018 HOFER BARBERA and MONTEPULCIANO that I also tasted recently.

Do your palate and wallet a favour and check these fabulous, value for money wines out for yourself, especially the LAGREIN, by visiting www.hoferfamilywines.com.au

Cheers and enjoy great wines this week - especially Aussie ones!