This wine is part of the M&S Classics range, a line that draws on trusted wine styles from celebrated regions, with an eye on quality and accessibility. This 2024 vintage is from South Australia and comes with a strong showing in this year’s awards, having earned a Silver from the IWC and a Bronze from the IWSC. Produced by Complexity Wines, it’s a blend dominated by Syrah (88%), with Petite Sirah (11%) and a small touch of Cabernet Sauvignon (3%), sitting at 14.5% ABV and matured in oak.
This wine works straight from the bottle without decanting. At first glance, the deep red colour signals intensity, but what follows is more refined than expected. While the bottle label suggests something rich, bold and heavy with bramble and spice, the wine is actually far more elegant in expression. It’s not the sort of wine that hits with obvious jamminess or overwhelming fruitiness. Think floral, perhaps violets, rather than berries. Despite technically being a dry wine, there’s a deep character that leans towards petals rather than ripe fruit.
Despite its full body, there’s a gentle, smooth texture to it, with no noticeable grip or roughness. The structure feels polished and modern, offering great depth without heaviness. It holds very well on the finish, with excellent length that carries the floral impression through to the end. Peppery spice doesn’t really make an appearance here, which might surprise some, but it doesn’t feel like a missing piece, just a cleaner interpretation. While it’s part of the ‘classics’ range, it actually isn’t classic in the traditional sense. In fact, it’s better than classic, a thoughtful and refined modern interpretation.
At £10 from M&S and Ocado, it’s superb value, delivering something that feels far above its price point. There’s a quiet sophistication to this wine, the kind you could easily imagine poured from a much more expensive bottle. It’s a brilliant example of how boldness in wine doesn’t have to mean fruit weight or sweetness, but can come from finesse, clarity, and depth of flavour. A great addition to my Awards25 series.
