Bondar Wines 'Rayner Vineyard' Grenache 2020

Bondar's flagship release hails from a 0.7-hectare block of old vines in the Rayner vineyard planted in 1970. This parcel has sandy soils over yellow clay; a soil type that brings finesse while the low yields bring intensity.

"I really want the Rayner Grenache to be a brighter, prettier expression of the variety," says Andre Bonda r. To achieve this the fruit is picked at just the right point, not too late, in order to capture the vivid red fruit notes and bright acidity that Bondar is after.

"Spicy, perfumed, hazelnut and orange zest, smoky meaty edges, red fruits and dried herbs. It's medium-bodied, fine and firm tannin grip with spiced strawberry and pomegranate, fresh and alive, kind of succulent, yet quite serious. It pulses with energy and runs long and savoury, so much interest, detail, and complexity here. Outstanding. I'd say it's the best Grenache I've tasted from Bondar." 95pts - Gary Walsh - WineFront

"While I am optimistic about grenache in these parts, I often find the style of shiraz monochromatic. Not in these hands. Despite the heat spikes of a warm year, the sandy blocks across the vineyard thrived. A cool finish to the season, providing perk. All things done right: picking window, use of whole bunches (20%) and a long extraction. Mostly older wood. A textural tour de force. Violet, blueberry, nori, peppery acidity and a licorella tannin line so fine that it could be threaded through the eye of a needle. A beautiful wine." 96pts - Ned Goodwin MW - Halliday Wine Companion