Old vines & sandy soil deliver a beautifully balanced Grenache with cherry blossom aromas, fresh berry palate and a long smooth finish

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.

Restrained and supple, lots of ripe dark plum, pepper and spice of Shiraz with the rose petal perfume lift and red cherry taste of Grenache. Lovely lightness and brightness to the back palate with a faint dried herbal and savoury edge, making it terrific immediate drinking but will cellar nicely for 5-10 years.

Shiraz and Grenache blend beautifully in many of the warmer parts of South Australia. This AAA is Paxton's 9th release, crafted similar to a Rhone-style wine yet it is packed with Au's Terroir. Bright with juicy red berry fruits and spices on the palate with well integrated oak and tannins, giving this wine a remarkable lengthy finish.

Some would say McLaren Vale is the spiritual home of Australian Grenache. We are not about to start arguing when Grenache like this one from Chapel Hill are produced. Generous rich red fruits with smattering of dried herbs and a fleshy mid-palate. There is real concentration and complexity to this wine.