Delicately floral with notes of green pear, citrus and some raw almond. The palate is peachy, yet frisky, with a sprinkling of herbs and a slight bitter cumquat note. There is a delightful textural element here too - like sucking on an apricot stone with a lean, fine acidity. Such a good drink!

Meet Il Cattivo, the new brainchild of one of our local favourites, Richard Bate of Karatta wines and his good mate Anthony Catinari. The new venture takes place at the seaside tourist hamlet of Port Elliot, about an hour south of Adelaide. Here these two mates are making a  a playful, cheeky range that highlights everything good about wine. Think maximum flavour, minimal intervention, and no shortage of character. Most of the fruit is from their estate vineyard overlooking the picturesque Fisherman Bay. The grapes planted here were an easy decision; Fiano and Montepulciano, channelling Anthony’s family roots in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Additionally, grapes are sourced from carefully selected sites in the McLaren Vale (Grenache) and Adelaide Hills (Tempranillo). Regardless of where the fruit's from, in the winery you can expect to see only native yeasts at play and minimal filtering. These methods in addition to short maceration times for the reds, result in truly expressive, supple and bright wines with a punch of personality. In other words, Il Cattivo has nailed its mission. Don't forget you tasted them with us first!