2019 Nine Popes Barossa Valley, Charles Melton

• Style: Old-vine Grenache–Syrah blend, deep ruby, savoury and structured
• Taste: Liquorice, anise, dark plum, pepper; lean, serious, built to age
• Food: Grilled beef, aged cheese, slow-cooked game, braised meats
• Occasion: Date night, gifting, cellar worthy
• Serve: 14.5% ABV; drink now or cellar 10+ years

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

A deep ruby wine with immediate savouriness: spiced liquorice and anise rise from a bed of dark plum and pepper. The structure is lean enough to keep your palate engaged yet rich enough that each sip feels substantial. No flabby ripeness or overblown oak—instead, restraint and discipline built for the cellar.

The Winery — Charles Melton

Charlie Melton planted his flag in Barossa nearly 40 years ago, recognising the pure potential in bush vines over 80 years old when others were grubbing them up. The 2019 Nine Popes marries 53% old dry-farmed Grenache from those ancient bushes with 47% trellis-grown Shiraz. Whole bunches and carbonic maceration during fermentation, followed by 24–27 months in mostly French barrique on lees, built a rounded palate without softening the wine's spine. Tannin volume is substantial—a signature of long-term bottle ageing. Today his daughter Sophie, a talented winemaker, assists Charlie in the winery, carrying forward his Rhône-influenced philosophy and commitment to old-vine terroir.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is serious drinking for grilled beef, aged Gouda or Pecorino, slow-roasted duck, and braised meat dishes where savoury spice sings. At 14.5% alcohol it carries weight without heaviness, and it suits both vegan and vegetarian-friendly tables. If you're drawn to Grenache & Garnacha's peppery red-fruit character or seeking the best of Australia's old-vine tradition, this belongs on your table. Drink now or cellar confidently through the next decade and beyond. Explore more of what we've curated across the Barossa Valley and beyond.