D’Arenberg, The Stump Jump Shiraz, 2021

It is rumoured that the inventor of the Stump Jump plough, which enabled a ploughshare to 'jump' over tree roots (or stumps), had poor eyesight and required regular tests to ensure he could still operate machinery. The design of this label is inspired by an optometrist's eyechart and serves as a makeshift sobriety test. If you can hold the bottle at arm's length and still read the front label, you can enjoy another glass. The nose is chock-full of fresh blackberries, cherries and dark chocolate sprinkled with spices. The palate is fresh and juicy, ripe red fruits mix with plums, blackcurrant, flowers and a twist of black pepper. The tannins are fine with d'Arenberg's trademark earthiness helping keep this easy going wine in check.