Producer: Bondar Wines  
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia  
Varietal: Shiraz/Syrah  
Year: 2020   

Retail Price: $32.00 
Our Price: $19.99* 

Founded in 2013, Bondar Wines is run by a husband-and-wife team, Andre Bondar and Selina Kelly.  It's their take on Australia's iconic McLaren Vale seen through the eyes of someone who has a deep appreciation for the Northern Rhone.  Andre Bondar experiments with new varieties and styles in the McLaren Vale.  The aim is to make wines that are bright, structured, mid-weight, yet concentrated in flavor, and with a savory element.  Bondar Wines, though an up-and-coming label, has already made a splash and quickly catapulted into the media.  Bondar won James Halliday's Best New Winery Award in 2017 and has now reached the highest 5 red-star rating. Critics have praised the ethereal quality of Bondar's wines.  The wines have been awarded numerous 90+ scores, Bondar was named one of the Top 50 Young Guns of Wine in 2018 and 2020, and one of their vineyards was named one of the top 50 vineyards of Australia in 2021.  They've become one of the most exciting and in demand wineries in Australia.  Though their production is tiny, the wines are superb, delicious to drink and a great value.  The 2020 Bondar Violet Hour Shiraz is rich, ripe, juicy and delicious.  It has notes of dark berries, lifted spice, rose petal and violet. The texture is silky and fine with smooth tannins and a good vibrancy.  Enjoy! 

James Suckling, 93 Points 

"This is a modern take on classically styled Mclaren Vale shiraz, and one that trades on rich, ripe and fleshy dark berries and red to dark plums. The smooth tannins deliver attractive roundness. Drink now. Screw cap." 

Winemaker Notes: 

"Lovely, floral nose with lifted spice, rose petal and high toned cherry/plum fruit, and yes, some pretty whiffs of violet too. The palate is medium weight, showing good vibrancy for a McLaren Vale shiraz, and delicious, juicy flavors that echo the nose, unhindered by new oak. The texture is silky and fine, giving an overall impression in the mouth of pure class winemaking." 

Alcohol: 14% 

Organically farmed. 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Discounts do not apply to wines like this one currently on sale.