Break Free Natural Wines, 'Little Wing' Shiraz Noir Carbonic, 2022, Adelaide Hills (GI)

'One-Liner'
A bright, chillable Aussie red with juicy dark fruit, a carbonic lift and a seriously gluggable finish.

Tasting Note
Bright purple-ruby in the glass. The nose is lively and lifted, with ripe cherry, plum and spice, plus a lightly exotic, floral note from the carbonic element. On the palate it’s juicy and supple rather than weighty, with plenty of crunchy fruit and fresh acidity keeping everything moving. Serve it slightly cool and it absolutely sings.

Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Sub-Region: Adelaide Hills GI
Grape(s): 95% Shiraz, 5% Pinot Noir
ABV: 14%
Friendly: Vegan, Vegetarian, Natural, Sustainable

Awards & Critics' Scores
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit – 92 points

The Story
Little Wing is part of the Break Free range, a project focused on low-intervention Australian wines with a looser, more playful feel. The 2022 marked a shift for this cuvée into the cooler Adelaide Hills, with fruit taken from a single vineyard. Most of the Shiraz was fermented on skins, while a whole-bunch portion went through carbonic maceration; after pressing, the wine spent seven months in older French oak, with a small Pinot Noir component added to keep the final blend floral, vivid and fresh. It was bottled without fining or filtration and with minimal sulphites.

Perfect With... (click me for the recipe)
- Meat/fish: Steak sandwich with caramelised onions and peppery rocket
- Vegetarian: Charred mushroom tacos with pickled onions and yoghurt sauce
- Vegan: Smoky aubergine, black bean and lime rice bowl