Spain, Rioja 13.5% Screwcap $18.99
I’m liking what I see when it comes to the wines Fourth Wave are importing to Australian shores; value for money, modern expressions that don’t seem like cynical attempts to cash in on an increasingly inquisitive wine consumer base…and a strong dollar.
This is not a profound wine. It works its best as a humble accompaniment to (equally humble) food. I have a soft spot for such vinous endeavours…I might even go so far as to suggest that we need them.
There’s purity of fruit in the form of blackberry and dark cherry, aided and abetted by sarsaparilla, dried herbs and spice. Strangely, even with the contribution of a little vanillin oak, the palate leans towards savouriness. Light to medium bodied and immensely drinkable.
Importer- Fourth Wave Wines
I can’t entirely agree with your comments as much of this portfolio looks like it's very much made for the Australian market. Whatever way to look at it is still an attempt, cynical or not, ‘to cash in on an increasingly inquisitive wine consumer base…and a strong dollar.’ By the sounds of things a pretty good attempt at that.
Nic- Your point is well made. The wines are very "clean", have "modern" labels and are certainly accesible to Australian wine buyers.
I guess the point I'm making is that the wines drink well and are priced appropriately..and to that extent they are far less cynical than some of the cheap imports I have tasted over the last year or so.
As for the motives of Fourth Wave? Well, like most businesses I presume they are trying to make a profit. If they produce something of value and quality then I don't see it as cynical or solely an attempt to cash in.