De Bortoli Woodfired Tempranillo 2022 is ripe dark cherry characters, cedarwood and coffee on the nose — soft mouthfeel with a savoury but delicious palate of outstanding Heathcote distinction. Authentic and rustic. Intense dark red with a purple edge. Loaded with ripe black cherries, blueberries and plums, nicely seasoned in spice and liquorice with hints of bay leaf, earth and herbs — flowing easily with soft, supple and smooth tannins. Vegan and vegetarian. Lovely now or cellar 2–4 years.
90 Points — Halliday Wine Companion, December 2025
“A generously flavoured Tempranillo that packs a lot of flavour oomph. Each release reveals a little more, offering the grape a big future in the region. Flows easily, with soft, supple and smooth tannins, and fills the mouth with flavour.”
Tasting Notes
Appearance
De Bortoli Woodfired Tempranillo 2022 presents an intense dark red colour with a purple edge of exceptional depth and Heathcote distinction — displaying the outstanding quality characteristic of fruit carefully selected from the northern section of Heathcote, mainly from the Heathcote Ridge vineyard, grown on ancient red Cambrian soils ideal for dark fruited, rich, grainy Tempranillo of enduring De Bortoli Woodfired distinction.
Aroma
The nose is rich and immediately captivating — ripe dark cherry characters, cedarwood and coffee of exceptional Heathcote depth and ancient Cambrian soil distinction. Ripe black cherries, blueberries and plums of outstanding vibrancy, nicely seasoned in spice and licorice with hints of bay leaf, earth and herbs of genuine complexity and authentic rustic character — a bouquet of outstanding aromatic generosity and enduring De Bortoli Woodfired Tempranillo distinction.
Palate
Soft and generous on the palate — a savoury but delicious palate of exceptional Heathcote distinction, with ripe black cherries, blueberries, plums, spice, licorice, bay leaf, earth and herbs of outstanding depth and genuine De Bortoli Woodfired Tempranillo character. Soft, supple and smooth tannins of rare Cambrian soil grainy texture flowing easily and filling the mouth with flavour of enduring Heathcote distinction — authentic, rustic and deeply rewarding. Lovely now or cellar 2–4 years for even more complexity.
Pairs With
This exceptional De Bortoli Woodfired Tempranillo 2022 is a natural companion to chargrilled red chorizo and peppers, 3–4 month aged Manchego cheese, slow-roasted lamb, paella or a classic Spanish-style tapas board — where its ripe dark cherry, cedarwood, coffee, spice, licorice and smooth tannins deliver a Heathcote Tempranillo experience of outstanding authenticity, rustic charm and enduring De Bortoli Woodfired distinction.
