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2026 Bush Vine Grenache, McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale and Grenache just belong together, and this wine is the proof. It's powerful but fresh: wild berries, cherry and red liquorice wound through with dried herbs and rustic spice. Fine tannins give it shape, and bright, juicy acidity keeps you coming back for another glass.
The vineyard The fruit comes from a single block of 60-year-old bush vines on the edge of McLaren Flat. The block sits right on the border of Blewitt Springs' famous sands and the complex Kurrajong geology. The vines are dry grown and give very low yields. It's old vines doing it the hard way, and you taste the difference.
The making Handpicked. 20% whole bunches go into the bottom of the fermenter, with destemmed whole berries on top. Two weeks of gentle hand plunging, then 12 months in seasoned French puncheons (big 500L barrels that add texture, not oaky flavour).
The [2026] vintage 2026 kept everyone on their toes. A cool, wet spring cut yields right across McLaren Vale, and these old vines gave even less than usual. Summer turned hot and dry, with two big January heatwaves. Then autumn cooled right down, and the Grenache got a long, slow finish on the vine. That extra hang time is what you taste: plenty of flavour, with lovely freshness and natural acidity. It's a small crop, but a very tasty one.
Drink it with: slow-roasted lamb shoulder, char-grilled mushrooms or a proper Sunday roast. It's also gorgeous with a light chill on a warm spring evening.
14.5% Alc/Vol | Small parcel: when it's gone, it's gone.
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:Â 12 x 750ml bottles
Pack price:Â $18 per bottle
