Aeon Alluvium, Hunter Valley 2024

A seriously interesting Australian red – Shiraz, Touriga Nacional and Viognier grown together in a single Hunter Valley vineyard. Dark fruit, spice, savoury complexity and plenty of texture without being big, heavy or over-oaked.

Aeon Wines is the project of Alasdair and Kenisha Tulloch, producing small-batch wines entirely from the Hunter Valley. Their approach is refreshingly simple – work with great vineyards, keep yields low and don't cover everything up with loads of new oak.

Alluvium comes from the single Field of Mars vineyard, planted on sandy alluvial soils. It's a field blend of 80% Shiraz, 15% Touriga Nacional and 5% Viognier – an unusual combination, but one that works brilliantly.

There's some whole-bunch fermentation in the mix and a deliberately light touch when it comes to oak. The result is a wine that has plenty of flavour and complexity but remains fresh, elegant and remarkably drinkable.

Why We Like It

This is exactly the sort of Australian red we like finding at The Strong Water Co.

Forget massive Shiraz with 15% alcohol and enough oak to build a dining table. Aeon Alluvium is all about balance, texture and character.

The Shiraz brings dark fruit, pepper and spice, Touriga Nacional adds colour, structure and a lovely floral edge, while that small splash of Viognier helps lift the aromatics.

There's something distinctly Northern Rhône-like about it at times, but then another sip takes you somewhere completely different. It's savoury, complex and one of those wines that gets more interesting the longer it's open.

If you enjoy Northern Rhône Syrah, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph or more elegant Australian Shiraz, this is absolutely worth trying.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Dark berries and plum with pepper, floral notes, spice and a subtle savoury character.

Palate: Complex and textured with ripe dark fruit, spice and fine tannins. There's plenty of concentration, but the modest alcohol and restrained oak keep everything beautifully balanced.

Finish: Long, savoury and elegant with lingering dark fruit, pepper and spice.

Food Pairing

Brilliant with duck, lamb, chargrilled meat, Asian-spiced dishes or anything coming off the barbecue.

The producer rather brilliantly suggests duck breast with Singapore-style noodles. We'd happily go with that – although a good bit of lamb wouldn't last long beside a bottle either.

Product Details

• Producer: Aeon Wines
• Wine: Alluvium
• Vintage: 2024
• Country: Australia
• Region: Hunter Valley
• Appellation: Hunter Valley
• Vineyard: Field of Mars
• Grapes: Shiraz 80%, Touriga Nacional 15%, Viognier 5%
• ABV: 13.4%
• Bottle Size: 75cl
• Closure: Cork
• Winemaker: Alasdair Tulloch
• Suitable For: Vegans & Vegetarians
• Farming: Sustainable
• Style: Medium Bodied Red

Buy Aeon Alluvium Hunter Valley Wine Online

Buy Aeon Alluvium Hunter Valley 2024 online from The Strong Water Co., independent wine merchants based in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire.

We deliver wine throughout the UK, including Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Whether you're ordering wine for delivery to Inverness, the Highlands, Skye, Orkney, Shetland or elsewhere across Scotland, you can order online for delivery direct to your door.

Local customers can also shop our wine range at The Strong Water Co. in Banchory and Ballater, in the heart of Royal Deeside.

ABV STRENGTH 13.4

BOTTLE SIZE 75cl

COUNTRY Australia

GRAPE Shiraz 80%, Touriga Nacional 15%, Viognier 5%

REGION Hunter Valley