2017 Jauma Disco Special

Region: McLaren Vale < Australia

Grapes: Shiraz (Syrah) +Grenache

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic, dry-farmed vines; tank fermented then bottled unfined/unfiltered no added SO2 in recycled beer bottles; 12% ABV

Winemaker: James Erskine

We’re totally crushing on natural Aussie producer Jauma, who makes organic and additive-free wines in the Basket Range region of Australia’s Adelaide Hills.  You gotta love a producer who describes himself as “embracing a wild and creative lifestyle coupling cooking, poetry, painting, and organic vegetable farming along with their vineyard and winery work.”  Groovy.  James makes wine in a Shed (the cute name for what they call a small winery), using meticulous fruit from Jauma’s dedicated vineyard partner, Fiona Wood. All of his wines are super fresh, lively and crazy low in alcohol (especially for Oz), with plenty of acidity and drinkability (like killing a second bottle is no problem).  Disco Special is an all-purpose party drinker, full of tart black plum, crunchy blue fruit and salty black olives with glittery acidity – and none of the dense, syrupy fruit that gives Shiraz a bad name.  Great for barbecues or burgers or late-night dance parties.