Australia needs a luncheon red to consume on warm days when a dense, impenetrable big red does not seem appropriate. The Beaujolais idea turned into the light dry red and while it looked promising has faded away. Grenache and grenache based wines I think are the answer.

Not the style of wines like our Gomersal grenache, as they are very serious wines, but lighter, more fragrant styles and blends. Wines like this appear much lighter on the palate but actually pack a fairly serious punch, as The Thief does at 14.5% alcohol.

I combined the free run juice that flowed off the old vine mourvedre (mataro that goes on to make Bulls Blood) with some free run juice of old vine grenache. So it sits on the lighter side of the red colour spectrum but packs an amazing flavour.

The Stelvin closure will ensure this wine remains fresh until 2011. Great with lightly spiced meats, strong flavoured fish dishes and char-grilled chicken.

Delicious al-fresco drinking.

The blend percentage varies but is around 50%-50%.