Durif is often the big boy of the red wine world, and this Altero Durif sure feels like it has some grunt. Blue and black fruit, cooked chocolate and dried plum mark this as a real full-bodied red, with the flavours given an extra savoury, earthy injection after 20 months in oak barrels (which just makes it more round and inviting).

Origin: The Isère region of Eastern France. Mainly Grown In: Famous in France, but more likely to be found in the USA or Australia these days. Key Facts: Durif is a semi-obscure grape that is a natural cross between the noble grape Shiraz and a far less well-known variety Peloursin. Although only a few token plantings remain in France today, Durif is both successful and popular in Australia where it makes characterful, pitch-black wines. Even long-term Shiraz fans are recognising the appeal of the incredibly dark, powerful wines from Durif. In fact, it's often blended with Shiraz. Durif offers up aromas of mostly black fruit flavours, ranging from blackberry and blueberry to slightly deeper black cherry. It is generally intense and inky, being a late-ripening variety, it spends additional time on the vine, concentrating the flavours. It responds well to oak-aging. Fun Fact: Durif is also known as "Petite Sirah". However, the grape has no genetic connection to Syrah, and there's certainly nothing small about the way this wine tastes!