Does what McLaren Vale does so well. Old vine Grenache with maturation in new and old French oak to maintain fruit focus. Foot stomped and basket pressed.
d’Arenberg, The Derelict Vineyard, Grenache, McLaren Vale, 2018
Absolutely dripping with fruit: concentrated blueberry (like the ones in a muffin), spiced plum juice, licorice all-sorts, smoky meat depth and coffee essence. Full bodied. Pervasive tannins crunch and clip underneath layers and layers of bold purple fruits. It still offers the unique McLaren Vale spine of minerality around which vaults the jumpy acidity. A little rough around the edges, but will easily mellow in a few years time, or give it a fair lungful of air if consuming in youth.
RRP: $29
Alc: 14.5%
Rating: 17.5/20
Wine sample courtesy of d’Arenberg