James Halliday – 45/35/25% grenache, shiraz and mataro; vines up to 80yo; small open fermenters, wild yeast, 10% whole bunch; 2-week ferment, hand-plunged. The rich bouquet, hinting at luscious fruits, doesn't deceive. A vibrant, supple cherry/plum/raspberry trifecta.
James Halliday Wine Companion 2023, 3 August, 2022
Huon Hooke – "95 out of 100 we scored it, a gold Ribbon score, and number 1 out of 25 grenache blends from Barossa in 2019 so very high recommendation. $30 wine...
...Lovely full bodied wine, intense but not heavy, enough tannin to carry flavour and to make it stand up with food. Plummy, spicy, good balance, harmony, freshness, beautiful drinkability although will age well as well.
We suggest drinking now until 10 years hence, but it would last a lot longer."
World Wine – Sales of this Grenache have been thundering along so the composition of this 2021 is slightly different from those of years gone by. The 2020 was made with 100% whole bunches off one site but an increase in production has seen two blocks blended. A 1949 planted block is 100% whole bunch and a second block planted in 1929 sees 30% whole bunches with the overall total now 61%. But let's just pause for a moment and consider the age of the vines contributing to this $40 wine... Extraordinary really when you look at the price. This 2021 is the first vintage that puncheons (8 year old) have been used to ensure a softer maturation. Slick describes this Grenache best. Softly textured, red fruits sing. It opens up and there is a savoury wrestle with fruit. Blue fruits rise up adding another level of prettiness. Picked at mid 13s brings a slight mintiness and red pepper character with it. But those soft blue and red berries waltz on and glisten. Superfine spices are draped through the mouth like a velvet blanket and that finish just goes on and on. A brilliant wine from a first-class Barossa vintage. Chase it down. Drink to five years+. (Q Wine Reviews)
The Wine Front – Made using old vine grenache, mataro and shiraz. Beautiful wine. Lovely pitch and flow. Raspberries, violets, woodsy spices and boysenberries. A bit of jamminess but in a context of both spice and freshness. Tannin, fine-grained, like mesh. Ticks all the boxes. Grenache blend in an excellent place.
James Halliday – Rosé produced from grenache and mataro from a variety of subregions – Greenock, Nuriootpa and Mengler's Hill. Pale salmon in the glass with aromas of ruby red grapefruit, nectarine and raspberry along with hints of soft spice, almond blossom and stone. Plenty of savoury appeal on the palate, finishing with bright, crystalline acidity and a crisp, dry wash of delicate red fruits and clotted cream.
James Halliday Wine Companion 2023, 3 August, 2022
The Wine Front – Barossa Valley blend of grenache and cinsault from one of Australia's premier producers. It's light. It's spicy. It's insistent. This is not heavy in any way and yet it presses itself upon you. It's hard to fathom how it does it. It tastes of super-fresh raspberry, earth and crushed spice and, simply, it just works
James Halliday – 96 points & Top 100 Wines of the Year - "Hand-picked from 80-year-old Krondorf and 163-year-old Springton vines; foot-trodden, hand-plunged, matured in large-format oak. The bouquet is fragrant, with exotic spices showing the way, the palate juicy, laden with purple fruits. Silky tannins simply add to the flavour." - James Halliday (The Weekend Australian)
Wine Enthusiast – This blend is very reductive to start, and it's hard to get past the sweaty cabbage notes. It does open somewhat with time, offering a sweet and sour note, along with ripe plum, blueberry, chocolate and white pepper, backed by vanillin oak. The palate is rich and a bit flat, wanting for more freshness. There's a grip of nicely textured, spicy tannins, but overall there's a lot of winemaking here without a lot of reward.
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
James Halliday – The 163yo Stonegarden vineyard near Springton is one of the treasures of the Eden Valley. Experiencing a wine made from these ancestor vines is an exercise in texture, restraint and grace. Vivid plum and red fruits cut with exotic spice, fennel tops, ginger cake, cola and purple flowers. Just beautiful drinking: a wine that is very composed and comfortable in its own skin. Savoury and fine.
James Halliday Wine Companion 2023, 3 August, 2022
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.
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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.