While certainly lighter, more elegant, and a different style to that of some of previous years, the 2011 vintage is one of the greatest Grenache vintages Yangarra has ever produced. The white pepper spice is telling of such a cool year, and is married with bright cherries and raspberry alongside complex hints of liquorice, chicory and cured meats. The tannins are fine and delicate, and the acidity alike.

2015 Clarendon Hills Onkaparinga Grenache, Purpled crimson. Magically entwined with elegant hints of cherry, raspberry, terracotta, cocoa, walnut, and Turkish delight. The flourishing perfume continues to rise with an ever-present core appearing as the seamless spine. Harmoniously, these characters gracefully nuance, reinforce and offer evolution. A harmonious composition of spice, fruit, glycerin and chalky velvet produce an aristocratic experience that is nearly limitless in its depth of expression. The palate is bright and taught with natural acid however it is incredibly layered and deeply concentrated with silky smooth extract. The impressive purity of the fruit, alone , ushers superlatives however it is the fine boned and seamlessly structured palate, coupled with an air of effortless power that remains the most haunting element to this exceptional old vine Grenache.

THISTLEDOWN WINES Sands Of Time Old Vine Single Vineyard Grenache, McLaren Vale

Winemaker Elena Brooks has a unique ability to heighten the aromatic power and flavour of Grenache, and this wine is her pinnacle release of the variety.Bright medium to deep ruby. Seductive florals, strawberry, violets, raspberry jube and rose petal. An amalgam of gentle flavours with sweet cherry and strawberry, over satin-soft tannins with superb length. A beautifully made wine.

Our aim here is for a refreshing nouveau, "bistro" style Grenache. From our Sand Road vineyard, hand picked, cool whole berry ferment, gentle extraction, light touch of season French oak. Juicy, with red and black fruits, blood orange and herbaceous natural acidity, smooth finish.

Grenache is enjoying a well-deserved moment, with a new generation of talented Aussie winemakers delivering deliciously fresh, approachable wines. This McLaren Vale Grenache is a superb example, from the exciting small-batch project Marsc Wine Co. Bringing acclaimed winemakers and prestige vineyards together covertly under a ‘masked’ label, they’re able to deliver great quality wines for brilliantly low prices. We can’t reveal who made this Grenache, but we can say that they have picked up some of Australia’s highest winemaking honours – namely, TWO Bushing Kings and a Jimmy Watson.

Its 95pt scores, two Golds and other accolades speak to the quality of this Grenache from Elena Brooks. The Heirloom Vineyards website proudly announces this was "produced from our best McLaren Vale Vineyard whose clones and viticulture embody the very best in cutting edge but old school viticulture and winemaking. Hand tended vines, whole-bunch fermented, basket pressed and stored in French oak barrels from bespoke coopers." “There’s a density of fruit here, leavened with the verve of the season. Red and black cherries, raspberry compote, redcurrant jelly, red licorice, white pepper and a dusty, earthy quality. There’s a firm drive to the palate apace with the fruit weight, cinching without constricting, the finish both vibrant and savoury. 95pts” (Marcus Ellis, The Halliday Wine Companion). try it with Maroccan spiced pitas as the producers suggest.

A special project single site Grenache made by Steve Grimley illustrating the quality of the varietal in McLaren Vale. "Since 2011 we have been making a single site Grenache from the Zimmer Family Vineyard across the road from our winery in McLaren Vale. In 2021 we separated the fruit into two individual fermenters, each of which was vinified and matured under the direction of a couple of old school winemakers, both of whom were remarkably confident they knew better than the other... " (Winemaker, Steve Grimley).