Barney Flanders’s debut Grenache Blanc is the result of a long-standing admiration for Rhône varietals and a successful collaboration with the Rathjen family in Heathcote. Sourced from southeast-facing vines planted a decade ago in Colbinabbin’s red Cambrian soils over limestone, this small-batch wine highlights the freshness and fine texture Barney is known for. The fruit was hand-picked at optimal ripeness (12-12.5% potential alcohol) and whole-bunch pressed into seasoned 500-litre puncheons. The focus was on preserving the purity and delicate aromatics of the Grenache Blanc, and Barney’s hands-off yet attentive approach has delivered a stunning result. The 2024 Le Stagiaire Grenache Blanc is all about balance. Aromas of white florals and stone fruit lead into a bright, pure palate with hints of peach, citrus, and a subtle saline minerality. The texture is elegant and fine, with a long, refreshing finish that leaves you wanting another sip. An impressive first release that combines freshness, charm, and understated complexity—this is a wine that promises great things to come for Barney’s foray into Grenache Blanc. 93 points"Good perfume, salted pistachio, pear and fresh apricot, and kind of waxy too. It has flesh and plenty of apple and pear flavour, again that saline thing, light dusty texture, some cool mint in with the waxy orchard fruit, hard steeped chamomile tea, preserved lemon, and a finish of good length. Very good wine. Texture and a slippery feel, but still keeps itself fresh."- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

Ample and dark fruited, with a smoky, savoury feel. Plenty of spice amid the berry fruits, with lovely earthy and graphite notes running through. Predominantly from Garagiste's Balnarring, Tuerong and Merricks vineyards, with a small proportion of Red Hill fruit. The grapes were sorted then destemmed--a small percentage of the Merricks portion was fermented with a 100% whole bunches--and fermented in small open fermenters using indigenous yeast, minimal hand plunging and spending 25 days on skins. The wine was aged for ten months in 10% new hogsheads with the balance being raised in older hogsheads. Unfined and unfiltered. Barnaby Flanders created the Garagiste label following his amicable split with Allies co-founder David Chapman (who continues with the Allies label). Barney now focuses on a snug range of small-batch wines from fruit sourced from the highly prized Merricks Grove vineyard, the Silverwood vineyard (Balnarring), and the Hugh Robinson vineyard in Moorooduc. Garagiste, the main label, is ably supported by delicious entry-level wines under the Le Stagiaire banner. Barnaby and Cam (Marshall) manage all aspects of the viticulture and winemaking themselves and a range of succulent, finely tuned and elegantly crafted cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is what results.

Fruit for this wine was hand sorted twice & produced in two ways; one fermenter of whole berries & another of 100% whole bunches. Blended together. Matured in 300-litre hogsheads (roughly 20% new, François Frères). Ten months on lees before bottling, unfiltered. A graceful & savoury expression of Mornington Pinot Noir. Red plum, spice & dark cherry characters. Fine, supporting tannins. A lingering, perfumed finish of amaro spice.

Garagiste's only 100% whole bunch Pinot and the wine also sees a little more new oak than the rest. Expect a lifted yet restrained & complex nose with red fruits, smoke, bacon & thyme notes leading to an intense, deep palate with a core of silky Pinot fruit framed by fine, powdery tannins. A serious Pinot that is delicious now but that will equally benefit from a few years in the cellar.