2023 A.Rodda Cuvee de Chais

While Beechworth is famous for Chardonnay and Shiraz, Adrian Rodda has always had a soft spot for the classic Bordeaux varieties. He calls this 'Cuvée de Chais' - essentially his cellar blend - and he treats it with the same level of detail as his top-tier whites. It’s his take on a traditional Claret, where the sum of the parts is definitely greater than the individual grapes.

When we tasted this with the team last week we were reminded what an underrated little wine this is. It’s not a heavy, over-extracted red; instead, it’s all about balance. Cabernet gives it that firm, structural backbone, while the Merlot and Cab Franc fill out the middle with plush red fruits and a bit of savoury herb. A splash of Petit Verdot and Malbec rounds it all out.

The cool 2023 vintage has resulted in a wine that’s incredibly fragrant - think dark cherries and violets.  You can see Adrian's light touch in the winery here - there's a lovely purity and freshness at the wine's heart.

It’s an understated, classy red that’s drinking beautifully now, especially with a quick decant. Terrific value.

94 points
"Adrian Rodda appreciates the fineness of detail that the cabernet blend can bring to the glass: the cassis, loganberry, black cherry and the prettiest of the spices."
- Jeni Port (Halliday Wine Companion)