Sevenhill, St Ignatius 2010

It may just be a conversation starter, but if I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked, “So, what’s your favourite wine”, I’d almost be able to give up my day job! And while it’s a little unfair to compare premium and pricey collectible wines to their commercially produced cousins which sell at a fraction of the cost, the Sevenhill “St Ignatius” is probably my current top pick for a “drink now” proposition.

The wine is a Bordeaux blend which comprises Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc all of which hails from the Sevenhill Vineyards in South Australia’s Clare Valley. The winery is an interesting story in itself as it is owned by the Jesuits who established the vineyards in 1951 to produce wines for sacramental religious purposes, but who later began producing commercial wines to support their charitable missionary work.

Winemaker, Liz Heidenreich, is the first non-Jesuit winemaker to ever craft their wines and she’s been doing a stellar job since taking the helm in 2005.

Her work with St Ignatius is outstanding, as the 2010 vintage in particular shows all the bold red berry fruits that you’d expect of a South Aussie red, but the impeccable finesse and balance of a Bordeaux blend with perhaps a touch of lingering spiciness on the finish. It’s obviously had decent French Oak exposure and will undoubtedly stand the test of time (if, unlike me, you can stop yourself from ripping the cap off a bottle every Friday night)!

At around $40 a bottle, it’s not aimed at the budget end of the wine market, but neither should it be – it’s a ripper!