Massena The Moonlight Run Barrosa GSM 2009

The inspiration for this wine was inspired by the repetitive nightly drive to the Clare Valley from the Barossa for Vintage 1999. During the drive home, Dan Standish and Jaysen Collins would crave a "soft slurpy wine to wash down a hard night's work. Out of this ideal we decided to make a Grenache based wine to be enjoyed whenever the mood takes hold"

James Halliday gave the 2008 94 points in his 2011 Australian Wine Companion: "Blackberry pastille bouquet, with liquorice, spice and a touch of ginger; the palate is warm, unctuous and in complete balance with all its parts; a very attractive undercurrent of Provencal herbs comes through on the finish, providing savoury complexity."

RRP $29

Reviews for the 06 vintage:

Nick Stock: “Aren't these guys in a purple patch? Fragrant florals and spicy Mourvédre, ripe berry fruits in spades. The palate's been wound together with clever hands and skilled blending here delivering a smooth ride home.” 93 points

International Wine Cellar: "Dark red. Exotically perfumed aromas of raspberry, cherry compote, cola and smoky minerals. Deep in flavor but focused and energetic, offering vivid red fruits and zesty minerality. Finishes with vivacious red fruit notes, fine-grained tannins and refreshing cut. 91 Pts."

Campbell Mattinson: "This is a blend of grenache, shiraz, mataro and cinsaut. It's a lovely drop, flush with flavours of dark fruitcake and sandalwood (really), cedarwood and caramel. If that sounds a bit /sweet' it's not really - there's lots of sweet ripe fruit flavour, but it's dry and grainy through the finish. Good drinking red. Drink: 2008-2012. 90 points."

Price: $22.99