James Suckling – Outer quote mark Tons of forest berries and damson plums, but also dried herbs. An extremely expressive wine with great fruit, very fresh and slightly crunchy tannins, plus energy that makes it leap and bound across the palate. Stunning licorice and mineral finish that proves Chateauneuf can be an exciting and elegant wine. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2024. Inner quote mark (2/2022)
The Wine Front – Raspberry jubes, cocoa and aniseed, fair perfume of dried herbs and flowers. Medium-bodied, choc-liquorice, juicy red berries, hazelnut, something a little more steely, saline, and ferrous, though that’s as yet more latent as the vibrant fruit is currently front and centre. A light graininess to tannin, freshness too, with a juicy finish of excellent length. It’s fun and bouncy now, though I reckon it will be better again in a few years when it settles down a bit. Tasted: Jan 23 14% alc. $28 Screwcap Drink: 2024 - 2030 - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.
James Halliday – The 22nd release of this particular grenache/shiraz/mourvèdre blend (this year 45/30/25%); from vines up to 90-plus years of age across Trial Hill, Light Pass, Nuriootpa, Seppeltsfield and Vine Vale. And it's a good 'un! Bright, perfumed and detailed with super-pure plummy fruit, layers of spice, earth, florals, gingerbread and roasting meat goodness. Driven by a vivid line of lacy acidity and framed with powdery tannin, it seems like it is a good place and will provide great drinking over the medium term. - Dave Brookes Published 06 July 2023
Wine Spectator – A ripe, lush style, with warm and inviting plum, fig and boysenberry confiture notes gliding through. Offers a beautiful polished feel, with suave anise and black tea flavors filling in on the finish while the fruit just sails through. Relies primarily on fruit, and you can't blame it for that. Drink now through 2030.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – La Nerthe's 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes is a blend of approximately one-third each Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Eighty percent of the wine spent a year in new oak barrels, but much of that has been absorbed into the wine, and I see that my notes don't make reference to overt oak descriptors. Scents of raspberry and spice lead the way, followed by a firm, full-bodied palate. The tannins are present from front to back, but they're ripe and silky, lingering elegantly on the finish.
Wine Spectator – Features linzer torte, boysenberry and blueberry coulis flavors allied to ample, silky and seamless structure and backed by a gorgeous perfumy finish of black tea and incense. Offers a beguiling, Pinot Noir-like profile, with lovely length and mouthfeel. Best from 2015 through 2030.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – Starting with the 2011 Châteauneuf du Pape Le Secret du Sabon, it shows the sunny character of the vintage with its perfumed kirsch and red fruits, herbes de Provence, licorice and ground spices. A big wine, it possesses full-bodied richness, fine tannin and a seamless, elegant style that will allow it to evolve gracefully for 15 years or more.
James Halliday – It took me a while to reach a conclusion on this wine. It's big and ripe and concentrated with a mass of cedar, spice, dried red fruit, tobacco and black plum. And there's big grainy tannins that coat the mouth from the middle back, but under it all is a core of succulent fruit, waiting. Patience the key here. - 2020 Vintage Review
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – Rose petal and tea leaves add nuance to the oodles of blueberries and cherries that form this wine's core, while the dense, rich palate carries those flavors on a velvety blanket of ripe tannins. - 2020 Vintage Review
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – The 2019 Salanques is powerful, seamless and quite complete, from a year of good ripeness and powerful wines but with balance. This has a lot of everything, starting with 15% alcohol (as stated on the label), black fruit, graphite, power and Priorat character. It's the same blend of 65% Garnacha, 25% Cariñena and 10% Syrah, with a pH of 3.28 and integrated oak after fermenting part of the volume in a large oak vat in their new winery - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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.