What a wonderfully elevated, intense and immediately attractive nose. Sweet spice overlays a core of raspberry confected fruits opening up with a savoury complexity laced with pepper - put simply, this is aromatically beautiful. A perfumed nose ready for the night in a body wrapped in silk and leather with tannins so incredibly fine and detailed, supported by a surprisingly friendly acidity. Generous in flavour, yet medium weighted. An utterly delicious, complex Grenache.

It’s hard to imagine a more tranquil corner of the world than Australia’s Barossa Valley, which perhaps goes some way towards explaining An Approach to Relaxation’s name. Run by a pair of enthusiastic USA-born sommeliers, Richard and Carla Rza Betts, the winery was born of a desire to find the best plot in the world to cultivate and vinify awe-inspiring Grenache grapes. After a considerable amount of globe-trotting and speculation, they came - where else? - to Barossa Valley, where they came across a 150-year-old vineyard, heaving with Grenache vines growing on sandy soils. The love affair with the French variety had reached its zenith, and Richard and Carla knew they were home. An Approach to Relaxation relies upon the peculiarities of the terroir and microclimate of their corner of the valley, along with the heritage nature of the vines. Yields are fantastically low, resulting in grapes that burst with expression and character. Such quality fruit deserves a special touch, and the winemaking couple insist on minimal intervention, open-top fermentation, and basket pressing before a touch of old French oak works its magic with the benefit of time. Elegant, ample, and wholly sexy wines are the order of the day.