International Grenache Day is coming on September 17th! And while there’s a day for every grape type….Australia is in an amazing place for Grenache at the moment.  Spoiled for choice with fruit from the old vine Barossa and sea spray influenced, ancient soils of McLaren Vale.
The 2020 is still widely available and the 2021 back label does nothing to suggest the winemaking for this vintage was anything different to previous years: fruit sourced from three separate, dry grown blocks in Blewitt Springs and McLaren Flat -the Natale, DogRidge and Conté vineyards. Natale and Conté  had 10% whole bunch ferments and were matured in French oak hogsheads for 6 months.

Ox Hardy, Grenache, McLaren Vale, 2021

Dark garnet with a bright edge. Raspberry and strawberry red fruits with earthy wet sand, choc nut bar and umami seaweed. Flow and depth with presence and structure. Umami, earthen gilt dark red berries and carrying almost a “pinosity” with whole bunch influence over the brown spice profile and the slightly tacky tannins.  Good juicy finish providing contrast for the seriousness of the mid palate.

RRP: $38
Alc: 14.5%
Rating: 18/20 (92/100)

Wine sample courtesy of Ox Hardy Wines and their Australian distributor Negociants