Archive: Australia: Grenache & Blends
Clarendon Hills
2004 Grenache Clarendon Clarendon ($61). A mouthful of bright, red plum and cherry fruit, with loads of exotic spice notes, a touch of perfumed herbs and a long, focused, slightly smoky finish. Ready to drink now and over the next seven or eight years. (Weekend Wine 04/07)
2004 Grenache Clarendon Kangarilla ($70). A favorite from the tasting, with delicious, sleek blackberry, violet, licorice, cigar box and lavender folding together on a pretty, lush finish. Delicious! Ready to drink now and over the next seven or eight years. (Weekend Wine 04/07)
2004 Grenache Clarendon Blewitt Springs ($70). The other tasting favorite, this one offers a firmer, fuller-bodied character than the Kangarilla, with concentrated plum and blackberry fruit accented with black pepper and anise notes that emerge on the focused finish. Ready to drink now, with a bit of decanting, and over the next seven or eight years. (Weekend Wine 04/07)
2004 Grenache Clarendon Romas ($100). Overflowing with lipsmacking black cherry aromas and flavors, with licorice, mushroom and black pepper notes that stay rich through the complex finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 10+ years. (Weekend Wine 04/07)
Coriole 2002 Lalla Rookh Old Vines McLaren Vale ($30). Interesting bouquet of spicy, slightly funky blackberry and floral aromas lead to a rich, ripe wine that is nonetheless balanced and utterly drinkable, with concentrated blackberry and cherry fruit layered with anise and clove and zingy acidity. A blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. (World Wide Wine 04/05)
d’Arenberg
2007 Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre McLaren Vale The Ironstone Pressings ($65). Outstanding, with a distinctive mineral note that adds to the hefty cherry and blackberry fruit. Loads of concentration and intensity. With a long, complex, supple finish that includes notes of cedar, tar, licorice, pepper and freshly-grated nutmeg. Made for a heavenly feast when paired with a grilled ribeye topped with Walla Walla onion compote. Ready to drink now and over the next 5-6 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-08-04)
2006 Grenache McLaren Vale The Custodian ($19). And this time, as it happens, the bottle was opened about an hour before I got back around to tasting it. And what a difference that breathing time seemed to make! It offered up lovely, fresh strawberry and delicate red cherry fruit, pretty violet accents, and appealing anise and toast notes. Yes, there is plenty of tannic grip, but the fruit hangs in there through the long finish. Nice value, too. It should age nicely for four or five years, or drink now after decanting. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2008-11-13)
2006 Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre McLaren Vale The Ironstone Pressings ($65). Aromatic red berry and cherry fruit is laced with pretty floral and vanillin notes that contrast neatly with doses of earth and cedar. All on supple, fine tannins. Builds in intensity through the plush finish. Ready to drink now and over the next seven or eight years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2008-09-19)
2005 Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre McLaren Vale The Cadenzia($29). Ripe and fleshy and easy to like, with its plush red berry and cherry fruit, baking spices, toasty vanillin oak and sweet tobacco notes. Long, generous finish. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2008-09-19)
2003 The Ironstone Pressings McLaren Vale ($65). Deeply colored and intensely flavored, with loads of red berry and spice notes, along with anise, dark chocolate and espresso accents – all wrapping up in a long, complex finish. Needs a bit of decanting to fully appreciate now. Should age nicely for at least ten years. (Splurge Wine 06/06) Locate this wine online or in your area.
2003 The Stump Jump Red McLaren Vale ($10). Clean, pure fruit flavors and aromas feature bright, sweet strawberry and raspberry, with a hit of white pepper on the pretty finish. Easy to drink — great value. A blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre. Ready to drink now. (World Wide Wine 04/05) Locate this wine online or in your area.
2002 Grenache The Custodian McLaren Vale Loam ($N/A). Wild blueberry and concentrated raspberry flavors are accented with dusty sage. Long, fleshy finish opens up to include more cherry and a kick of black pepper. (Drinks with Les Dames, 10/06) Locate this wine online or in your area.
2002 Grenache The Custodian McLaren Vale Deep Sand ($N/A). Deeper and more concentrated than the Loam wine, with meaty black currant, plum, black pepper and earthy vanilla bean notes, with a deep, but smooth finish. (Drinks with Les Dames, 10/06) Locate this wine online or in your area.
2002 Grenache The Custodian McLaren Vale Sand on Clay ($N/A). Most interesting, with fig, caramel and iron aromas introducing smoky blackberry and olive and leather flavors, with loads of tannic grip on the tightly wound finish. (Drinks with Les Dames, 10/06)
2002 Grenache The Custodian McLaren Vale ($19). Harmonious and smooth, with ripe red cherry and berry flavors that are laced with fresh herbs, subtle spices and toast. Bright acidity and fine tannins support a long, fleshy finish. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. (Drinks with Les Dames, 10/06)
2001 Grenache McLaren Vale The Custodian ($19). Beautifully balanced, with deep blackberry and cherry flavors laced with warn spices and toasty oak. Finishes long and supple. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. (World Wide Wine 04/05)
Grant Burge 2001 The Holy Trinity Barossa ($34). A combination of Australian ripe fruit and Rhone Valley funk, with lush red cherry and berry fruit laced with exotic spices, game, earth and toast. Pair with game, roasted poultry, or a mixed grill. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. (Splurge Wine 06/06)
Jacob’s Creek 2005 Grenache-Shiraz South Eastern Australia ($8). Easy quaff here, with juicy red berry, light toasty oak and a smooth, moderate finish. Ready to drink now. (Bargain Wine 10/06)
John Duval 2004 Plexus Barossa Valley ($35). The second vintage of this GSM from former Penfolds winemaker John Duval – it offers concentrated blackberry and currant flavors laced with cedar, clove and toasty vanilla notes. Smooth texture, but with structure to make it cellar-worthy. Ready to drink now and over the next eight to ten years. (Splurge Wine 06/06)
Kilikanoon 2006 Grenache Clare Valley Prodigal ($30). Sleek and pretty, with cherry and black plum aromas and flavors that pick up tea, cocoa and toasty vanilla through the finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-01-05)
Rosemount
2002 GSM South Australia ($30). Rich, aromatic blackberry and black currant fruit is layered with white pepper, wild plum and earthy notes, with rich, creamy vanilla emerging on the long, mouthwatering finish. Delicious now and should age beautifully over the next five to eight years. (Splurge Wine 06/06)
2001 Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre McLaren Vale-Barossa Valley-Langhorne Creek GSM ($30). Beautifully aromatic, with waves of ripe berry, floral and spice notes and just a touch of sweet vanilla. Plummy and supple, with ripe fruit accented with loads of spice and bourbony oak in the background. A compelling wine that’s hard to put down. Very good now and over the next four or five years. (World Wide Wine 04/05)
Tintara 2002 Grenache McLaren Vale Reserve ($45). Just a beautiful wine, with subtle spicy French oak supporting opulent, elegant red plum and berry fruit laced with baking spices and vanilla. Ripe, lingering finish. Very good now and over the next six or seven years. (World Wide Wine 04/05)
Torbreck
2006 The Steading Barossa Valley ($37). This is the same fruit as the Cuvee Juveniles, but it gets 2 years in older barrels instead of the new oak treatment in the Juveniles. The result is quite different — more earthy, meaty aromas and accents to the fruit, which seems darker and deeper and less jammy here. Fascinating. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-07-29)
2008 Cuvee Juveniles Barossa Valley ($25). Intense, slightly jammy black raspberry, strawberry and plum flavors are slightly jammy but not overly alcoholic, with a long, concentrated, licorice-laced finish. A blend of Grenache (60%), Mataro (Mourvedre) (20%) and Shiraz. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2009-10-04)
Wirra Wirra 2002 Grenache McLaren Vale ($N/A). Richly colored and aromatic, with lush red berry and plum fruit laced with warm spices, a touch of earth, and nicely integrated toasty oak. Appealing and complex, with a rich finish. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. (World Wide Wine 04/05)
Yangarra Estate Vineyard
2005 Grenache McLaren Vale Old Vine ($25). Meaty blackberry and cherry aromas and flavors pick up rose petal, baking spices and toast through the smooth finish. Ready to drink now and over the next four to six years. (Weekend Wine 09/07)
2005 Cadenzia MLaren Vale ($25). A blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre, it is bursting with jammy blackberry that is full-bodied but balanced, and picks up a warm shot of black pepper and roasted, nutty nuances through the complex finish. Very nice. Ready to drink now and over the next six to eight years. (Weekend Wine 09/07)
2004 Grenache McLaren Vale Old Vine ($25). Super concentrated, with aromatic blackberry laced with violet and exotic spices. Focused, plush finish is supported with a bit of grip. Nicely balanced all around. Delicious now and over the next six to eight years. Great value. (Weekend Wine 09/07)
2002 Grenache McLaren Vale Old Vine ($25). A “wow” wine — huge and still just a baby, with concentrated blackberry and plum fruit layered with briar and an array of warm spices. Finish lingers impressively. Tempting now and over the next seven or eight years. (World Wide Wine 04/05)
2002 Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvèdre McLaren Vale ($25). Appealing bacon fat aroma mingles with ripe red plum and blueberry aromas and flavors, along with a burst of black pepper spice on generous finish. Very, very good. Ready to drink now and over the next seven or eight years. (World Wide Wine 04/05)