Chalmers have made it their nearly sole vocation to see the potential of Italian varieties in Australia become reality. With early success in white varieties like Fiano and Vermentino, this newer addition to the oeuvre is a Southern Italian red grape called Negroamaro - often translated as either ‘black and bitter’ or ‘heart of darkness’. Knowing that, it’s hardly surprising that the variety is typified by dark, plush berries with intense structure and heady aromatics. Chalmers’ skews classic, with a ferrous mineral edge that follows plump, juicy notes of blackberry compote and bittersweet allspice and liquorice. Despite all that concentration, it stays on the right side of elegant - more Severino Garofano in style than Bob Parker.