A complex red from a wine genius
2006 Tim Adams, The Fergus, Clare Valley, South Australia (£10.19, Tesco).
It was over three years ago when this awesome wine made its debut appearance in this column (it was the 2004 vintage, back then).
Tim continues his incredible ascent to the pantheon of great Aussie wine-makers (where they presumably drink awesome wines all day and night!), albeit with wines that everyone can afford and with uncharacteristic stealth, modesty and integrity.
A big man, 'Bonecrusher' Adams is surprisingly subtle and contemplative and this is a clue to the sheer brilliance behind his staggeringly delicious wines.
The Fergus is a complex blend of grenache, cabernet, shiraz, cabernet franc, tempranillo and malbec and it sees only old oak hogsheads for 12 months, which allows the fruit to dominate the end wine and not raw, unattractive oak unlike many of his neighbours' wines. It is drinking perfectly now, but it will mature for a decade.
It is succulent and plush and yet complex and intricate at the same time. For a tenner, you will be gob-smacked at the quality on offer here. He also makes a sensational 2008 Riesling (£8.99, Tesco), too, which will also run for a decade – this man is a genius.
• Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition's Communicator of the Year.
