2021 Fall From Grace ‘La Madrina Nero’, McLaren Vale

Fall From Grace is a project started by Gill Gordon-Smith, an inspiring woman who has done a lot in her life. She was a Qantas flight attendant for 20 years, but then caught the wine bug and never looked back. She is a retailer, wine judge, writer, one of the best educators in the country and now she even make wines! It’s fair to say she likes to be busy! Fall from Grace is her own label, made from a cellar door that doubles as a wine bar and retail shop, based in Aldinga, McLaren Vale. It is from here she also ran her wine courses and has a great natural wine selection in her shop. Why do we like it? Yes, you saw where this was going, natural wine is her thing; a hands-off approach and expressive wines. This Nero d’Avola is our favourite of the range. Nero d’Avola is a grape originally from Sicily that thrives in the Mediterranean climate conditions. Hence why she has planted it in her elevated McLaren Vale vineyard. It was hand-harvested, hand-sorted, and left to macerate in her clay amphoras before being gently pressed in an old vertical press. The wine was then aged in old French barriques. It’s a very joyful and vibrant wine with notes red cherry, ripe black plum, blueberry and bitter chocolate. Despite the full-on nose and dark, deep notes, the wine is intensely fresh and very juicy.    Grape            Nero d'Avola Country        Australia                                              Region          McLaren Valle        Vintage         2021