Region: Victoria
Sub Region: Heathcote
Varieties: 85% Nebbiolo, 15% Refosco
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2026
Style: Light to medium-bodied, fragrant and savoury red
The Wine
Pat Underwood’s Little Reddie wines combine a thoughtful approach to Central Victorian vineyards with an instinct for making bottles people want to drink. The project began in 2012, and Pat’s subsequent experience included three consecutive harvests with Olek Bondonio in Barbaresco—valuable grounding for a winemaker with such a clear interest in Nebbiolo.
The 2026 brings together 85% Nebbiolo and 15% Refosco. It is an unusual but convincing partnership: Nebbiolo supplies fragrance, freshness and a fine tannin framework, while Refosco contributes darker fruit, colour and juiciness.
That balance gives the wine both immediate appeal and enough detail to hold your attention. Red cherry and raspberry sit alongside cassis and mulberry, with rose perfume, citrus peel and a gently earthy, savoury undercurrent. The fruit remains bright and expressive, supported by fine tannins that carry the finish.
Pat works closely with individual growers and adapts his approach to the needs of each parcel. Here, the result is a wine with an easy flow and a distinctly northern Italian sensibility, expressed through the fruit and energy of Central Victoria.
Cellared Says
This is the sort of bottle I’d recommend when someone asks for a red that feels a little different and is easy to enjoy. The blend makes sense in the glass: perfume and a little grip from Nebbiolo, with Refosco bringing extra generosity.
I like the thought behind it, and I like that the ambition is expressed through drinkability. I’d open it young, give it a slight chill on a warm day and let the bottle find its own pace.
Region: Victoria
Sub Region: Heathcote
Varieties: 85% Nebbiolo, 15% Refosco
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2026
Style: Light to medium-bodied, fragrant and savoury red
The Wine
Pat Underwood’s Little Reddie wines combine a thoughtful approach to Central Victorian vineyards with an instinct for making bottles people want to drink. The project began in 2012, and Pat’s subsequent experience included three consecutive harvests with Olek Bondonio in Barbaresco—valuable grounding for a winemaker with such a clear interest in Nebbiolo.
The 2026 brings together 85% Nebbiolo and 15% Refosco. It is an unusual but convincing partnership: Nebbiolo supplies fragrance, freshness and a fine tannin framework, while Refosco contributes darker fruit, colour and juiciness.
That balance gives the wine both immediate appeal and enough detail to hold your attention. Red cherry and raspberry sit alongside cassis and mulberry, with rose perfume, citrus peel and a gently earthy, savoury undercurrent. The fruit remains bright and expressive, supported by fine tannins that carry the finish.
Pat works closely with individual growers and adapts his approach to the needs of each parcel. Here, the result is a wine with an easy flow and a distinctly northern Italian sensibility, expressed through the fruit and energy of Central Victoria.
Cellared Says
This is the sort of bottle I’d recommend when someone asks for a red that feels a little different and is easy to enjoy. The blend makes sense in the glass: perfume and a little grip from Nebbiolo, with Refosco bringing extra generosity.
I like the thought behind it, and I like that the ambition is expressed through drinkability. I’d open it young, give it a slight chill on a warm day and let the bottle find its own pace.
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