The Oddball Saperavi

Hugh Hamilton Wines The Oddball Saperavi is sourced from the winery's Church Vineyard in McLaren Vale, sited on the sandy alluvial soils of an ancient creek bed.

What began as just three rows of vines planted in 2001 has grown into one of the largest Australian plantings of Saperavi. It remains a rare variety in Australia.

Saperavi, native to the country of Georgia, is a teinturier grape, meaning that its juice is naturally dark instead of gaining its colour from time on skins. Saperavi literally means 'pigment' in Georgian.

A deeply coloured and tannic grape, Saperavi requires a very gentle touch in the winery. The juice does not remain on skins for long, and only receives half the pump overs and plunges of Shiraz or Cabernet.

Dark purple, Hugh Hamilton Wines The Oddball Saperavi is dense and highly spiced with chewy tannins keeping fruit generosity in check. Cellaring potential is 10 years.