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When Grenache delivers what Pinot Noir promises.
Jokes aside, this is one very serious Grenache. Its hard to believe that not so long ago, Grenache was a much maligned grape variety, mainly used as a bulk blending variety to give some 'lift' to Shiraz.
Well, folks, things have changed somewhat over the past decade or so. These days, old vine Grenache from the back country of McLaren Vale - just like this is made from - is fetching more than Shiraz from the same district.
This wine was made from vines planted in the 1960s on the sandy soils of Blewitt Springs. With their roots in the subsurface clay, where moisture is trapped year-round, the vines are happy and healthy. The cooler nights (thanks to 'gully winds' which blow up most evenings during the summer) help retain freshness and acidity in the grapes, while they slowly ripen late into the season.
The 2022 season proved near-perfect, with sunny days and cool nights. A slightly lighter crop ripened perfectly. Traditional open fermentation with partial whole-bunches, and maturation in larger seasoned French oak was all that was needed to capture the perfect fruit characters and knit things together.
The result is a divine example. Briary red fruits, nuances of spice and earthy notes compliment the lifted aromatics. Taut tannins and nuanced oak characters round this wine off perfectly.
One for the cellar, just as long as you can keep your hands off it. I can see this wine maturing beautifully over 5-7 years.
Where & When: Smokey bbq dishes, like ribs or buffalo wings, drizzled with bbq sauce and all the sides. Char grilled prawns, friends and a classic Port Willunga sunset.
Pack size: 12 x 750ml bottles
Pack price: $210 per dozen