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
Golden yellow in the glass, with a shiny rim. The aroma is full and intense: vanilla, wood and sweet coconut up front, with peach and apple rounding out a rich Chardonnay profile. Those same fruit flavours of peach and apple carry onto the palate, backed by vanilla, coconut and a touch of green grass. Medium acidity, a medium finish. It comes across as robust yet elegant, with a rustic charm and some quieter nuances. Pour it alongside pasta with leek, tarragon and gorgonzola, or anything in a creamy sauce. It also works with snacks and cheese, or on its own.
Shiraz’s Kings of Prohibition Lucky Luciano’
Ruby red, with a rim shading from purple to brick. The nose is fruity and forward: wood-driven vanilla, caramel fudge, blackberry, raspberry and strawberry, with leather, chocolate and a hint of bourbon whiskey underneath. The palate is warm, fresh and fruity, leading with chocolate, ripe red fruit and caramel fudge, carried by medium acidity and medium-minus tannins, that bourbon whiskey note lingering into the finish. A charming, elegant red with some rough edges. Accessible enough to drink on its own, though it does better next to food, and it suits BBQ or hamburgers well.
Old Tawny’s Kings of Prohibition Roy Olmstead’
Medium brick in colour, which is genuine rather than the deeper tone you might expect from an old tawny port. The nose offers raisins and dried apple, with fruity, nutty and herbal aromas. The mouthfeel is smooth, with medium sweetness and acidity, the raisin and dried-apple flavours rolling into a long finish. The profile is gentle but robust, with accessible aromas and flavours that recall a Pedro Ximenez sherry. It holds up on its own, though it really comes into its own with dessert, a chocolate lava cake for instance. For more fruit, chill it 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
Sources
- Producer (official site)
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