Kings of Prohibition: Bold Wine With Art Deco Style

Australian winery with labels referring to the American Roaring Twenties — Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Stella Beloumant. Bootleggers who kept the liquor trade running during Prohibition, now the names on a wine range that Vinites imports into the Netherlands. Three tasted: Chardonnay, Shiraz and Old Tawny.

Three wines

Chardonnay ‘Kings of Prohibition Stella Beloumant

Color: Golden yellow with a shiny rim.

Nose: The wine has a full and intense aroma, with notes of vanilla, wood, sweet coconut, peach, and apple. These flavors combine to create a rich chardonnay profile.

Palate: On the palate, you’ll experience delightful fruit flavors of peach and apple, accompanied by hints of vanilla, coconut, and a touch of green grass. The wine has medium acidity and a medium aftertaste.

Overall, this Chardonnay is robust yet elegant, with a rustic charm and subtle nuances. It pairs well with dishes like pasta with leek, tarragon, and gorgonzola or with a creamy sauce. It also complements snacks, cheese, or can be enjoyed on its own.

Shiraz’s Kings of Prohibition Lucky Luciano’

Color: A lovely ruby red color with a purple to brick rim.

Nose: Fruity with prominent notes of wood vanilla, caramel fudge, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, leather, and chocolate, with hints of bourbon whiskey.

Palate: This wine boasts a warm, fresh, and fruity style, featuring flavors of chocolate, ripe red fruit, and caramel fudge, complemented by medium acidity and medium (-) tannins, with lingering notes of bourbon whiskey in the aftertaste.

Overall: A charming and elegant red wine with some rough edges. It is accessible and pairs well with BBQ or hamburgers. It can also be enjoyed on its own, but truly shines when accompanied by food or snacks.

Old Tawny’s Kings of Prohibition Roy Olmstead’

Color: medium brick, true, not your typical old tawny port color.

Nose: notes of raisins, dried apple, pleasant fruity, nutty, and herbal aromas.

Palate: smooth mouthfeel, with medium sweetness and acidity. Enjoy the flavors of raisins and dried apples, followed by a long-lasting aftertaste.

Overall: This Old Tawny wine has a gentle yet robust profile, offering accessible aromas and flavors reminiscent of a Pedro Ximenez sherry. It stands out on its own but pairs exceptionally well with delightful desserts, such as a chocolate lava cake. For an enhanced fruity flavor, I recommend chilling the wine in the fridge for 15 minutes before serving.

Verdict

Three accessible Australian wines with strong art-deco presentation. Suitable as BBQ pour or gift for a grill friend. One caveat: the bottles weigh 693 grams empty — significantly heavier than the modern 400-450g standard, so a noticeably higher CO2 footprint per bottle. Lighter material in future vintages would be welcome.

Thanks to Vinites and Kings of Prohibition for the bottles. More info: kingsofprohibition.com | vinites.com