Little Reddie Bootleg Red NV 2025

Little Reddie Bootleg Red is a medium-bodied Central Victorian blend of Refosco, Nebbiolo and Syrah.

Bootleg is the bottling that catches what the cellar throws off, and Pat Underwood calls this year's version the offal blend of the cellar, which he means as a compliment. Components come from the Chalmers vineyard at Colbinabbin and from Dash Farms up on the granite at Leanganook, so two quite different pieces of Central Victoria end up in the same bottle: red Cambrian soils on one side, decomposed granite on the other. Refosco brings depth and dark fruit, Nebbiolo brings scent and a tannic spine, Syrah fills out the middle. Real fruit weight, without tipping into heaviness.

Plums, sour cherry and dried herbs, with tannin that grips lightly and then lets go. Best at 15 to 16 degrees, and a short chill does it no harm. Sausages off the barbecue, a mushroom ragu or pizza with fennel salami.