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Description
Not too heavy, not too light, just right! Here is a brilliant little mix of mid-weight red wines in a range of different styles and varieties from six of our favourite artisan winemakers
These six juicy, savoury and beautifully balanced reds all are perfect whether pairing with food or enjoying on their own. Similarly, all will look great with some time in the cellar, but also drink beautifully right from the get-go! With these wines, versatility is the word.
The medium-bodied red trend in Australian wine is here to stay, and this really is the perfect all-occasions box of delicious Aussie wine!
- 2023 Varney Wines Mencia
- 2023 Van Higgins Free Ball Grenache Cinsault
- 2022 Ravensworth Regional Shiraz Blend
- 2024 Unico Zelo Truffle Hound Nebbiolo Barbera
- 2022 First Foot Forward Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2021 Brash Higgins MRLO Merlot
2023 Varney Wines Mencia
95 points & Top 100 Wines of 2023
"Bright colour; a haunting herbal/dark cupboard bouquet... and that Varney touch of freshness on the finish."
- James Halliday (The Weekend Australian)
Not as much Mencia among the vineyards of McLaren Vale, as, say Touriga - that seems to the grape 'de jour'. But more wines like this elegant, lacy beauty from Alan Varney and lots of this native Spanish grape might find its way in to the ground.
From a small plot in Seaview, this is a bright, lifted, medium-bodied red with some exotic spice and game meat aromatics.
Nine days on skins, short time in Burgundy barrels then bottled. Just 88 dozen bottles made. Not sure how much drinking that works out to per day...
2023 Van Higgins Free Ball Grenache Cinsault
"Here we go! This is everything I love about modern McLaren Vale - pure red fruits, perfume and freshness, lovely fine tannin. A seriously smashable blend from two of our great winemaker mates in Brash and MJC. Proud to offer this little gem exclusively to our customers. Get some!"
- Tom Hollings (Different Drop Co-Founder / Wine Buyer)
We are thrilled to be the only retailer in the country to offer you access to this exciting collaboration between two of McLaren Vale's finest producers.
The Van Higgins "Free Ball" Grenache Cinsault is a 50/50 blend from the creative minds of good mates Michael J. Corbett (Vanguardist) and Brad Hickey (Brash Higgins). It was conceived over many late nights sharing bottles of 'baller' (hence Free Ball) reds from some of the Rhone Valley's finest, the likes of Gramenon, Rayas, and L’Anglore, a medium-weight red blend that captures the best of McLaren Vale is where they settled.
It's a deliciously harmonious blend of Grenache and Cinsault, each variety bringing its unique flair to the table. The Grenache comes from the gnarled 'goblet' bush vines on Vanguardist's 'Silver Sands' Rende Vineyard in Blewitt Springs. The Cinsault comes from the Lennon Vineyard in McLaren Vale, just outside the front door to Brash Higgins HQ. Half the fruit was destemmed and the other half kept as whole bunches, then ageing in a combo of 600L ceramic eggs and demi-muid barrels. This kept the wine fresh and bright, focused on the excellent fruit quality on display, without the hindrance of heavy-handed oak.
We love the freshness and flow of this wine. It's all red and blue fruit, some frisky spice, floral accents and beautifully shaped tannin that lingers long on the palate.
There were only 123 dozen made and it is only available from the two producers' websites and here at Different Drop.
93 points
"A bold pop of ripe cherry, dried roses, a bit sappy, dried herbs, raspberry too. It’s medium-bodied, a lively and vibrant wine, cherry soda and some turned earth, rosehip tea, fennel crunch, bright cranberry acidity, there’s some clay-like things, and dusty tannin grip, with a juicy/savoury finish of excellent length. It’s fun, and it drinks a treat. Spicy and interesting."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
2022 Ravensworth Regional Shiraz Blend
There just weren't enough wines in the sprawling Ravensworth Regional range... Well that's according to Bryan Martin, anyway. So here comes an excellent little Shiraz blend for your drinking pleasure.
"Super excited to welcome this blend in our regional range..."
- Bryan Martin
This wine is a little unusual in that the fruit comes from the opposite sides of the country. Bryan had access to a parcel of phenomenal fruit on the Swinney vineyard in the Frankland River region of Western Australia. This is highly prized bush vine Grenache and Mourvedre which is in high demand by WA's best producers. But there just wasn't enough to make a decent-sized release, so Bryan blended it with some top-quality Shiraz from the Hilltops and Murrumbateman regions, much closer to home.
It's a classic Ravensworth red. Mid-weight, supple in texture and just damn delicious down to its toes. If you are a fan of basically anything Bryan makes (like we are), you'll want to add this beauty into your regular Ravensworth rotation.
"The fragrant bouquet and fresh zesty palate makes the Grenache and Mourvedre, rather than the Shiraz, dominant."
- 95 pts, James Halliday (The Weekend Australian)
2024 Unico Zelo Truffle Hound Nebbiolo Barbera
Crafted from Nebbiolo and Barbera grown on Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills vineyards, this is Unico Zelo’s take on an approachable, aromatic red blend, designed for pure drinking pleasure. Paying tribute to its Northern Italian inspirations, it’s a fresh, modern Aussie red with a playful edge.
Affectionately dubbed "Truffle Hound," the winemaking approach focuses on retaining the blend’s signature herbal aromatics and meaty, umami undertones. The fruit is picked early to preserve its lively energy, then carefully vinified to highlight amaro-like notes of liquorice, smoky cardamom spice, and earthy savouriness. A juicy mid-palate provides texture and drive, while a bright finish ties it all together seamlessly.
With just 11.5% ABV, this red is built for versatility at the table, but it truly shines as the ultimate pizza wine. Whether you’re tucking into a truffle mushroom pie or your favourite Margherita, it’s a match made in foodie heaven.
Truffle Hound encapsulates everything Unico Zelo stands for—joyful, food-friendly wines that celebrate Australia’s evolving wine culture and its connection to the land. Perfectly enjoyable now, no cellaring required.
2022 First Foot Forward Cabernet Sauvignon
The Yarra Valley does medium-bodied Claret better than anywhere else in Australia and this great value offering from Martin Siebert is just the latest example .
Sourced from the Tokar Estate vineyard, this medium-bodied Cabernet is all about balance, elegance, and drinkability.
It smells of blackcurrant and violets, with a palate filled with supple dark fruits and a touch of earthiness. The gentle tannins—thanks to a four-week skin contact and maturation in 300L French oak—give the wine structure without overpowering its fresh, juicy character.
A classic Yarra Cabernet that combines modern finesse with old-school charm. Great buying here if you're on the hunt for a luncheon Claret that won't bust the bank.
96 points
"A medium and vibrant crimson red. Aromas of perfectly ripened blackcurrant and black cherries intermingle with just a hint of cedar and violets. Just as impressive on the medium-bodied, concentrated and well-structured palate. A ripper Yarra cabernet and at a price that's worth buying a six-pack and enjoying them over at least the next decade."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)
2021 Brash Higgins MRLO Merlot
MRLO is a wine that aims to change some of the preconceptions of Australian Merlot.
This McLaren Vale grown fruit is fermented wild in clay amphora, settled, then aged in amphora for a further nine months. Brad also makes the addition of 15% Nero d'Avola for an extra bit of pep and funk turning this often maligned variety into something pretty unique.
It's not just creatively put together, it's also undeniably delicious. It's quite exciting to see Merlot so perfumed, so energetic and so more-ish.
Only 200 cases made.
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