Bondar's Nero d'Avola comes from a young block of vines (grafted onto '90s Cabernet Sauvignon rootstock) on the rocky clays of the Willunga foothills, right on the southern end of the McLaren Vale region. Andre Bondar keeps the winemaking intentionally light-handed, crafting a wine to be enjoyed in its youthful splendour.
This is only the fourth release of this wine. This year 60% of the fruit was de-stemmed, wild-fermented and moved to old oak for élevage, while the remainder was fermented as whole bunches in ceramic egg, remaining on skins for three months. The two parcels were blended in October and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Soft tannin and seductive raspberry aromatics set the tone, while a hit of spice and savoury notes bring moreish complexity. A delicious, lip-smacking young red that can be enjoyed in the warmer months.