Awesome Aussie Reds: Banging Black Flag Wines for Your Cosy Nights In

True to style, the Black Flag Winemakers Langhorne Creek Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2018 is a boundary-pushing, small batch wine that’ll blow your socks off. A seemingly off-the-wall, avant-garde blend of Shiraz and Pinot Noir, this may not be an “obvious” Aussie style red wine, but then again, what else would you expect from the folks at Black Flag?

On the palate you’ll find deliciously sweet dark berry fruit swinging into action from the Shiraz grapes, while a touch of Pinot Noir adds enticing aromas of ground coffee and star anise on the nose. Warm and spicy with intensified flavours due to a long, cool growing season, this is definitely a Pinot Noir blend with a difference.

Surely the ultimate red wine to have during the colder months is a big, robust and smoky Cabernet Sauvignon? Well, the Black Flag Winemakers McLaren Vale Cabernet Sagrantino 2018 is just that. A hedonistic blend of Cabernet and characterful Sagrantino, this full-bodied red invites you in with hints of mint chocolate and fragrant dried herbs, before launching into rich, decadent flavours of cherry liqueur and Black Forest cake!

A real explosion of complex flavours, this has a long, lingering finish where you’ll even pick up on a leathery nuance. With burly tannins and that spicy, smoky palate, this wine is ideal for pairing with red meat dishes (a good shout if you’re breaking away from traditional turkey on Christmas Day and opting for lamb or beef instead).

Now, only 300 cases were made of this one – so, if it sounds like your cup of tea, fill your boots quick before it disappears! This Black Flag Winemakers Red Blend 2018 is a seductive blend of Durif, Shiraz, Malbec, Mourvèdre, Touriga and Grenache. Each parcel has been sourced from Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale or Langhorne Creek (three of Australia’s most noteworthy regions).

2018 was a great vintage in South Australia, with good weather that resulted in quality grapes and super rich wines, so a blend like this is guaranteed to be an absolute dream for any red wine lover. Fruity and flavoursome with savoury nuances and hints of spice, this Black Flag beauty has a brooding texture that’ll leave you wanting more.

Another lovely red wine to try this winter. Taking its name from the Limestone Coast grapes used in the blend, the Black Flag Winemakers Limestone Coast Shiraz Cabernet 2018 is full and fruity, yet elegant and stylish all at the same time. Expect delicate aromas of vanilla and cherry on the nose followed by bright red fruits, fresh herbs and chocolate on the palate.

Inviting and warm, this one has crisp tannins and is pretty easy drinking. It’s a nice one to enjoy with all manner of foods too – perhaps the label is a clue that this is a food friendly vino?

An old vine Grenache is essentially a Grenache on steroids. Old vines produce grapes with highly concentrated flavours that are much deeper than if the vines were young. So, as you can imagine, this new batch of Black Flag Winemakers Old Vine Grenache 2018 – which was made from gnarly old vines that are over one hundred years old – is a little bit special.

Delightfully perfumed, you’ll find a number of red fruit scents on the nose, followed by a soft, velvety palate displaying notes of gentle raspberry and strawberry. Don’t expect a blockbuster flavour explosion here – what you actually get is a sophisticated drop that’s been shaped to perfection by the unique vines that produced it. It’s a real work of art.

If you’re after a classic Aussie Shiraz, then get yourself a bottle of the Black Flag Winemakers South Australian Shiraz 2018. Just like the explorer on the label, Steve Grimley, head winemaker at Black Flag, has been prowling around South Australia to find the very best parcels of Shiraz for this wine.

Expect typical New World Shiraz notes of black plum and cassis layered with earthiness, giving it heaps of complexity on the palate. This one is fantastic with red meat, mushrooms and aubergine, so it’s a good bottle to have this winter whether you’re a meat eater, vegetarian or vegan. It’s also a very strong match for hard cheeses, so could be a contender for your Christmas Day cheese course too!

Great Red Wines for Christmas

If you’re thinking about getting your wines in for Christmas soon, we really can’t recommend these rich Aussie reds enough. Whether it’s to pair with your festive feasts or purely to enjoy while you get cosy by the Christmas tree, this line-up of fine red wines by Black Flag will go down an absolute treat this December.