MC1R: Rouge
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2025
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, slow-cooked lamb shanks, aged Cheddar cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
Named after the Melanocortin 1 receptor—the scientific term for the gene that determines red hair—MC1R: Rouge is a playful yet deeply serious nod to the RedHeads winery's rebellious identity. Crafted in South Australia, this blend typically marries the structure and dark fruit profile of Cabernet Sauvignon with the plush, spicy richness of Shiraz. The grapes are sourced from select independent growers across premium South Australian regions, where warm days and cooling gulf breezes allow the fruit to develop intense concentration while retaining balanced acidity. Fermented in small batches and aged in a combination of French and American oak, the wine delivers a complex profile of blackcurrant, plum, subtle eucalyptus, and sweet baking spices, wrapped in velvety tannins. It stands as a testament to the winery's mission of rescuing exceptional parcels of fruit to create wines with distinct personality and narrative flair.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2002 by the UK-based Laithwaite family, RedHeads Wine evolved from an avant-garde collective of moonlighting South Australian winemakers into a purpose-built, eco-conscious estate in the Barossa Valley. Operating out of an off-grid winery in Angaston, the producer champions small-batch 'grape liberation,' sourcing distinctive micro-parcels from independent growers across the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, and Eden Valley alongside its own eight-hectare certified organic estate vineyard. Viticulture and vinification prioritize environmental stewardship, confirmed by NASAA organic certification and international accolades for sustainable power and water conservation. In the cellar, head winemaker Alex Trescowthick employs open-top ferments, native yeasts, and sensitive oak regimens tailored to individual varietal profiles. The portfolio bridges Barossa power and aromatic precision, showcased through benchmark releases such as the 1888 Cabernet Sauvignon, Harmonie Rox Chardonnay, Triplex, and characterful Rhône and Mediterranean single-vineyard expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
🍷 ABV
14-14.5%