We had a very early start to vintage in 2015, with generally mild conditions throughout. We had only a handful of hot days, which allowed natural acids to develop nicely. This was a very short, sharp vintage, with most winemakers finishing their vintage well before Easter.  Yields were down, somewhere between 10 and 30% depending on variety.  Joch’s take on the whole affair: ‘Fast, early and pretty’.

Graciano is a red wine grape that hails from Spain, and is grown predominantly in the Rioja region. It produces deeply coloured wines which tend to age well. The vines are hardy and more than able to cope with warm, dry conditions. In Rioja Graciano is generally blended with Tempranillo in Gran Reservas wines, as the Graciano brings longevity to the mix. In Australia there are quite a few single varietals being made in a range of regions. Interestingly, one of the many synonyms for Graciano is Bastardo Nero. I quite liked that as a name, because I don’t mind using the odd swear word now and again. Needless to say, it didn’t get chosen for the front label. Our Graciano was made traditionally in open fermenters, as is our way here at Bosworth Wines. It spent no time in oak and was bottled early.

• Halliday Wine Companion 2017 Campbell Mattinson

  It explodes with sweet berried flavour. The effect is simple but stunning. Aniseed, raspberry and plum jam flavours course straight through the wine's veins. No ifs, no buts.

  90 points

• The Australian Financial Review, Life and Leisure Tim White 8-10th July 2016

  Fragrant and perfumed; has a fudgy Pinot Noir meets Grenache thing about it. Some exotic wood, spice, tar and currant. Has a creamy, fudgy flavour on the palate too, plus lots of juicy blackcurrant and berry things also. Squeezed, luscious and warming (in a good way). An honest extremely tasting red.

  91/100

• WBM (Wine Business Magazine) May June 2016 Mike Bennie

  A bright, fresh young release of the Graciano grape variety from organic-grown vineyard. It’s textbook crunchy in texture and rife with amaro and sweet red cherry scents and flavours. It sits well in the palate, shows some pleasingly powdery-bitter tannins and finishes juicy and brisk. Great drinking. Give it a light chill for fun. 13.5%

  92 points

• 2016
• 2015