2013 Woods Crampton Johns Vineyard Barossa Valley Bonvedro

Bonvedro is a red grape variety grown in Portugal as Bomvedro and in north-eastern Spain under the name Cuatendra. There is also some suggestion that this rare grape exists in France and northern Italy.

Recent DNA testing revealed that seventy year old vines masquerading as Carignan in the Barossa Valley were in fact the Bonvedro variety, adding yet another intriguing episode to Australia's Mistaken Grapes chronicle. How the variety originally got to the Valley is anyone's guess but evidence suggests that cuttings may have arrived in the colonies in the large James Busby collection. But the confusion with Carignan appeared to lay because of certain similarities between the two varieties.

The dynamic crew of Aaron Woods and Nicholas Crampton produce the only 100% varietal Bonvedro in Australia from a single dry grown vineyard in the Valley's Light Pass sub-region.

Dark ruby red colour in the glass. Offers up an intense perfume of sweet dark red fruits, spicy qualities with some twig and smokey notes. Light to medium-bodied red wine. Supple in the mouthfeel. Well-balanced acidity and light chalky tannins that integrate into a spicy, slightly bitter palate composed of blackberry, black olive and dark chocolate.

An Interesting, complex and well worth exploring this obscure wine. As a summer red, it tastes just as good slightly chilled. A great find.