Now considered Australia's Best Grenache. 97pts James Halliday.
Australia's Best Grenache and James Halliday's Wine of the Year for the 2016
"From Block 31, the highest elevation at 210m, with the deepest sand. Hand-picked, mechanically sorted, 50% whole berries, open-fermented, 21 days on skins, 11 months on lees in French oak. A rainbow of aromas, leading me to abort my first mental description because I'd already run out of breath." - 97 Points - James Halliday (Halliday Wine Companion)
Where this wine comes from - McLaren Vale
Just south of Adelaide in South Australia, McLaren Vale is a red wine drinker’s haven, producing rich, velvety textured reds the state is known for. Looking over St Vincent Gulf, the maritime influence in McLaren Vale helps to keep summer temperatures down while the steady temperatures are perfect for producing balanced reds that are certainly easy on the palate. In a similar vein to the Barossa, McLaren Vale hangs its hat on Shiraz, but similarly, Grenache and Mourvèdre play a strong supporting role – perhaps outshining the star of the show on occasion! Certainly its GSM blends deserve recognition, producing seamless wines. Enjoying its Mediterranean climate, it comes as no surprise that the wines of McLaren Vale are perfect with hearty Italian dishes – ragout, pizza, or an antipasto platter – you can’t go wrong.