The Oddball

Name: The Oddball
Brand: Hugh Hamilton Wines
SKU: EXODD-23
Price: 88.00 AUD
Availability: InStock

Saperavi 2023 - New Vintage

Saperavi is the world’s oldest grape variety. It originates in Georgia 8000 years ago

Hugh Hamilton was one of the first people in the country to plant Saperavi and has been fascinated by it for over two decades. The word Saperavi translates to ‘ink’ or ‘dye’ due to intense skin colour and red flesh. We call this Shiraz grown on a diet of lightning.

“The text book would no doubt say “don’t plant it”. However, I’m listening to the grapes. 22 vintages of Saperavi tells me year after year that this grape variety loves the terroir of McLaren Vale” – Hugh Hamilton

Vegan friendly

🏆 93 Points - Marcus Ellis - Halliday Wine Companion

🏆 92 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

🏆 18+/20 Points - Matthew Jukes

Winemaker's Notes

Saperavi is a very odd variety. The grapes are so darkly coloured the Georgian’s named it with their word for ‘dye’. The skins are black and unusually the pulp of the berry also carries colour. The wines that it makes are similarly dark, often very depth driven and textural, and our Oddball always rewards cellaring. The wines are often so intense that we have come to describe this variety as Shiraz raised entirely on a diet of lightning.

Bouquet & Palate

Fennel jus, blood, beets, and iodine. Rose-hipped brambles, leather inflected pink ladies, raspberry jonquil sweat, elderberry, cherry stone and pomegranate. Blackcurrant, black tar, and mascara. Sturdy tannins still taut. Refinement requires time.

Food Match

Espresso rubbed dry-age T-bone with roast beetroot, baby spinach, and goats cheese - or Miso-Dijon glazed tempeh with smashed beets and caramelised onion.