Swinney Frankland River Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2020

46% Mourvèdre, 29% Syrah, 21% Grenache, 4% Mencía.

This blend was a showstopper last year, and 2020 offers more of the same. Grenache has taken the early plaudits, yet the Swinney team are equally enthusiastic about their Mourvèdre. The Mourvèdre, like the Grenache is from bush vines and the Syrah from vertically trellised vines--all from iron-rich gravelly loam soils. This year there's also a splash of Mencía.

"Around half is whole bunch, all of it is wild fermented, there's a splash of Mencía in the mix (would love to see a 2020 single variety Mencía off this site!). It's been a cracker in the past, here's the new release. Blackcurrant jelly, graphite, old leather, woody spice abound in perfume. Flavours roll a similar way, more blueberry than blackcurrant though, juiciness chiselled into by ribs of mineral-charged tannin, some sooty spice and tobacco characters lending savouriness. Medium weight, tannin-shaped, long, firm, dusty, savoury. Such a great drink here with charisma, texture, tension, and energy in spades. Serious stuff!" 94pts - Mike Bennie - The Wine Front