Wine Enthusiast – This wine is dark and earthy at first, but opens with airing to reveal bold notes of blueberry, mocha and peppery spice. This 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah is full bodied, richly textured and finishes long.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – It offers fabulous black cherry, licorice, wet gravel and ample crushed rock like minerality. Medium to full-bodied, nicely textured, elegant and polished.
Wine Spectator – Ripe but understated style, with a mix of Damson plum, black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors mixed with wood spice and black tea notes. Stylish, pure finish. Drink now through 2033.
Antonio Galloni/Vinous – Bright orange-pink. Aromas of fresh red berries, orange pith and dusty minerals, joined by a suave floral nuance that builds in the glass. Silky, focused and energetic on the palate, offering juicy strawberry and tangerine flavors sharpened by a suggestion of white pepper. Closes minerally and extremely long, showing a repeating floral note and lingering citrus fruit character.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – A fabulous effort the has finesse, elegance and texture, the 2015 Rose from Chene Bleu sports a light pink color to go with perfumed notes of rose petals, framboise and strawberries. This seamless beauty can be enjoyed on its own, but it will pair beautifully with any number of dishes as well.
James Halliday – "From 40-year-old vines. A delicious, perfumed grenache that’s laden with red and blue fruits. Fresh and fine, able to mature well, but it’s hard to see any need other than drinking it at the first opportunity, albeit respecting its inherent quality. 36000 bottles made." - James Halliday (The Weekend Australian)
The Wine Front – "Ripe raspberry, spice, floral perfume, black tea, liquorice and iodine. It’s fleshy and ferrous, ripe and quite earthy/bloody, with lavish crushed rock tannin, ginger biscuits, blood plum and orange peel, strewn with dried herbs and a closes with a firm dry chewy finish of excellent length. Distinctive wine. Very good." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
James Suckling – "This is a return to form after the previous vintage, which I felt was a little charmless. A sturdy, full-weighted grenache that is far from the pinot-esque zeitgeist found in McLaren Vale. Here, more brawn, dark spice and tannic sinew. More Rhone-like, as effete as the comparison may be. In fact, it is the courageous tannins that build across a scape of kirsch, damson, dried sage, anise, and pickled orange zest, that serve as the wine's opus. A scruff of whole-bunch thyme and tapenade to conclude. This will make good older bones. A very sturdy grenache." - Ned Goodwin MW (JamesSuckling.com)
The Wine Front – "This is so deliciously peppery. Black pepper, Texas tea, raspberry and black cherry with graphite, clove and mineral-like notes threaded through. It’s medium weight but there are plenty of bass notes, if that makes sense. It has a meaty darkness in among the brightness of the spice. It’s tight, dry and grapey through the finish; everything here suggests quality. Indeed this is a pretty special grenache." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – "The Swinney Grenache is grown on bush vines, on a northeast-facing slope in the gravels of Frankland River. It is so different from the wines produced in South Australia (McLaren Vale, Barossa, etc). I love the clarity and the bloodiness of the wine in this vintage. The tannins are infused throughout the fruit in this 2021 Grenache. Matured in large format neutral oak (3,500 liter), it is kept on lees the whole time. It has concentration, tension and pliability—ductile or something—there's cherry, pomegranate, blood, ironstone, gravel, minerals and spice. This is an awesome wine from an awesome site. There were 25% whole bunches in the ferment, and it is 90% Grenache, with some Mourvèdre and Syrah. "The wine is blended in the vineyard, not in the winery; I like picking and co-fermenting," says winemaker Rob Mann. "2021 was the cooler year in between two warm ones. This was a typical year with some summer rainfall (great for the later-ripening, dry-grown reds). As a result, the wines are more elegant, they have a finesse, precise aromatics, texture, without being heavy," says Mann. " - Erin Larkin (Robert Parker Wine Advocate)
The Wine Front – "Smells exotic; is exotic. Orange peel and raspberry, cranberry and chalk, floral elements and roasted spice notes. It’s both pretty and substantial, juicy and taut. There’s something ultra pure about this wine; something special. Woodsmoke and earth notes rise as the wine breathes. Apart from many things else, it’s a gorgeous drink." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)
James Halliday – "Grenache sourced from the high elevation of the Eden Valley and the Barossa Valley floor. An offering of the best grenache of the growing season, according to Peter Schell. Plenty of vibrant, aromatic fruit with juicy red plum, cranberry and mulberry fruits sheathed in gingery spice and hints of cola, earth, dried citrus rind, teacake, orange blossom, raspberry coulis and redcurrant paste. Firm, chalky tannin grip and a super lively, mineral-laden wine finishing juicy – just a pure, joyous rendition of the variety. A new wine for the crew from Spinifex and it is glorious drinking." - Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)
James Suckling – “A seductive and well-made Cairanne with crunchy berry character. On the nose cherries, forest berries and herbs dominate. The medium-bodied palate reveals a harmonious structure and poised character. Delicious and vivid.” - jamesuckling.com
Originating from Spain, where it's affectionately known as Garnacha, Grenache has found a home in many wine regions worldwide, each place imparting its unique touch to the grape's inherent profile. This grape thrives in hot, dry conditions, making it perfectly suited for areas like Spain’s Priorat, Australia’s Barossa Valley, and France’s Southern Rhône, where it plays a starring role in the famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape blends.
Grenache's allure lies in its ability to produce wines that are both robust and approachable. Its naturally high sugar content can lead to higher alcohol wines, yet they seldom come across as overpowering. Instead, they entice with aromas of raspberry, cherry, and white pepper, often accompanied by hints of leather and herbaceous undertones. Its versatility allows it to be the primary grape in some wines, while in others, it complements and elevates accompanying varietals.
Historically, Grenache has been a cornerstone grape, often blended but seldom celebrated on its own. However, as winemakers and consumers alike began to recognize its potential, it has steadily gained the spotlight, resulting in wines that beautifully showcase its range and depth. Each bottle tells a story of the land from which it came, inviting those who partake to savor its nuanced flavors and history.
We don’t talk about Grenache like they do about Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Pinot Noir, but the warm-climate red grape is the fifth most planted variety in the world with stunning 163,000 hectares of vines – it is significant in terms of volume and variety. Grenache is the second most planted red grape in France and Spain, and both countries lay claim to the grape’s origin. Grenache can be used to make mono-varietal red and rosé wines. Still, given its fruity and peppery personality, it is also used in blends, along with Syrah and Mourvedre, but this is just the beginning. Let’s talk about Grenache.
Many famous wines use Grenache, either on its own or as part of a blend. Most red wines from the Southern Rhône Valley depend on the grape. Grenache is also used to make rosé in Provence, and it is the only grape allowed to produce the French fortified wines of Banyuls. Grenache in Spain is often blended with Tempranillo, typically in Rioja, but it is also crucial in Priorat. Grenache goes by the name of Cannonau in Sardinia, Italy, and it is also typical in the new world — you’ll find Grenache in many GSM blends in Australia and California, so the grape is a world phenomenon – many popular wines depend on it.
Grenache is an ancient varietal, which means there’s more than one variety. White and “grey” Grenache grapes exist, and they’re also used regularly in many wine regions worldwide. Still, the most significant type of Grenache is the red type. Grenache Noire is used to make robust red blends, elegant mono-varietals, refreshing rosé and bold fortified wine. This warm-climate varietal is even used to give colour to sparkling wines in Spain, specifically when making Cava Rosado. Grenache is known as Garnacha in the Iberian country. There’s no doubt Grenache is one of the most versatile red grapes on the planet!
Grenache wines can be incredibly economical but memorable and worthy of any wine cellar. Some of the most expensive wines made with the grape come from France and Spain. The acclaimed Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation allows for all types of Grenache. On the other hand, the robust and rustic wines from Priorat, in Spain’s Catalonia, can also be pricey, and they always contain at least some Grenache. Rosé made with Grenache is rarely expensive, and the same can be said about most GSM blends in both the old and new world. Cotes du Rhone is a reliable source of inexpensive Grenache, as are most GSM blends from South Australia.
Since Grenache is amongst the most planted grapes on the planet, given its versatility, it’s hard to say one wine made with the grape is better than others. We can safely say there’s a Grenache wine for every budget and occasion. If you want to know more, explore our selection of Grenache at World Wine — your source of fine wine in Australia. White, red or rosé, if it’s made with Grenache, we have it. Add Grenache to your wine rotation today and enjoy its versatility!
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
Delivery Times
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Quality Guarantee
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
Sending a Gift
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.