Chance Encounter

Chance Encounter is a compilation of Adelaide Hills chardonnay from Woodside, alongside shiraz and cabernet from Marananga in the Barossa Valley, and iterations of the same grapes from the Delabole district of McLaren Vale. The red wines are fully flavoured and densely packed, yet avoid straying into excess. No wonder, given that winemaker Jason Barette served under Peter Gago at Penfolds. There is a brazen confidence manifest in the meld of French and less fashionable American oak that is used to craft the reds. Yet it is not without justification; the quality is stellar. The tannin management sublime, serving to corral the dark-fruit accents while imbuing the wines with a pliant sweetness, well suited to their powerful makeup. The wines are sold online -NED GOODWIN MW