Coates ‘The Iberian’ 2022 from the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale is a bold yet elegant Mediterranean‑inspired red that brings together seven Iberian varieties into a red‑fruit‑centric, medium‑bodied style – deep garnet in the glass, perfumed, complex and seriously drinkable. It’s Duane Coates’ left‑field answer to GSM: distinctly Iberian in feel, but very at home on a South Australian table.

The Iberian 2022 shows perfumed aromas of bergamot, raspberry and fragrant spice over subtle savoury cedar. The softly textured palate dovetails into black cherry flavours intermingled with fruit pastille, Turkish delight, gamey nuance and roasting‑meat notes, all carried by layers of fine tannins and a refreshing acid backbone that give long, dry, savoury length.

As an Adelaide sommelier’s take, Coates The Iberian 2022 is tailor‑made for roast lamb, grilled chorizo, smoky BBQ ribs, paprika‑leaning dishes and hard cheeses or rustic tapas. It’s exactly the kind of distinctive, food‑friendly red you pull when you want something with a bit more spice, perfume and personality than your usual Shiraz or Cabernet.