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Inkwell 'Black and Blue' Fortified Zinfandel 2021 375ml
Grape Type Pronunciation: "for-tee-fyd" "red"
Primary flavours
Black Fruit
Dried Red Plum
Chocolate
Fruit Cake
Details
Famously, the seriously talented Irina from Inkwell harvests the grapes for this fortified at the very end of the vintage, picking the super concentrated berries when they're super ripe. This luscious fortified is fittingly dense, too, with an avalanche of decadent fruit cake and dried plum richness, the spirit adding more decadence and power. Don't think this Australian take on a vintage Port is cloying, though. Instead, it finishes surprisingly clean and fresh.

McLaren Vale is home to many of Australia’s most exciting wineries, and Inkwell Wines has risen in prominence over the past few years to become among the best. Working closely with the land to establish that all-important ‘fingerprint of place’, as husband and wife team Dudley Brown and Irina Santiago-Brown put it, has become the bedrock of their success. What’s more, this winery is blending old world approaches - single estate practices and age-worthy vintages - with dynamic and on-trend ideas regarding sustainability, low-intervention methods and keeping a close eye on every stage of each grape’s journey from vine to bottle. Inkwell is all about removing as much of the artificial as possible from the winemaking process. 'Modern, alternative and handmade' is the motto here. Dealing in low yields and small batches, Inkwell makes use of just one tractor, one de-stemmer, a single press, and small fermenters to gain absolute control over their output. Needless to say, that output has gained no shortage of fans, thanks to an incredible array of flavours and characteristics that continue to support McLaren Vale’s peerless reputation.
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Taste Profile
This wine’s tasting notes.
Sweetness
nonesomelots
Body
lightmediumfull
Fruitiness
lowmediumhigh
Tannins
lowmediumhigh
Acidity
lowmediumhigh
Oak
nonesomelots
Alcohol
low (under 12%)medium (12-14%)high (14%+)
Taste Summary
This wine’s tasting notes are leaning towards full bodied, medium sweetness, with medium acidity, very fruity, medium tannins, high alcohol and some oak.
Specs
Region
McLaren Vale
country
Australia
Grape type
Fortified Red
Wine Maker
Inkwell
Alcohol
20.9%
Vintage
2021
Cellar period
10-20 years
Closure
Cork (Natural)
Production method
Organic
Temperature
Cool 13°C-15°C
State
SA
Pairing guide
Mmm - this fortified Zinfandel is truly something special, and will certainly be a hit at any dinner party or gathering of friends and food! That tempting sweetness makes it a great counterpart for salty ingredients like prosciutto, olives and capers, meaning it’s an ideal bottle to crack open alongside a sharing dish of charcuterie and dried fruits. It’s also brilliant with blue cheeses, or dishes that bring together apples and pears with strong cheese and pastry. Fruity desserts, dark chocolate and candied nuts will also provide stunning pairings to explore.
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Food
Dessert
Chocolate
Tastes
Sweet
Rich
Moods
Contemplative
Relaxed
Seasons
Cooler Months
Recipe Matches
Wine region
McLaren Vale, Australia
Nestled in the rolling hills of South Australia, about 45mins due south of Adelaide, the McLaren Vale wine region is a haven for wine lovers. The region is known for its big, bold red wines, particularly Shiraz and Grenache, as well as its fresh, vibrant whites from fun varieties like Fiano and Grenache Blanc. The warm climate and unique soils of McLaren Vale give the wines produced there a distinct character that will make your taste buds sing. So why not grab a bottle (or two) from McLaren Vale and let the good times roll!
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