2022 Grenache

93 Points, The Wine Front, Gary Walsh

And this new release Grenache comes from the elevated Springs Hill vineyard. The Whaite family have been farming this Blewitt Springs property since 1975, with bush vine Grenache being later planted (by hand) here in 2007 using only a jackhammer spike and sledgehammer.

The soil in this particular block is complex (and challenging to plant) consisting of ironstone gravel, conglomerate and feldspar over course grained grey sand, which is typical of the district. 

For us, Springs Hill Grenache is often the last parcel of fruit to hit our winery. This year, we harvested on March 25th, 2021 and processed the following day after a night in the cool room.

We destemmed 65% of our fruit to a single open fermenter whilst the remaining 35% was tipped on top as whole bunches. 

After 16 days on skins, when the aromatics were peaking, flavour and phenolics just right, we gently pressed to tank where the ferment finished to dryness before racking to neutral 500L Puncheons for MLF and maturation. 

Reflective of our taste and style, we picked our 2021 Springs Hill Grenache at modest baume which resulted in a wine without heady alcohol or heat, just lovely pure fruit wrapped around fine grained tannin that this vineyard is so often noted for delivering. 

Whilst the wine is only starting to open and reveal itself now, there’s lifted aromatics of dark raspberry, musk, blue fruit and bay leaf spice. In the mouth, there’s fine red fruits and that distinctive spice note that carries on to the finish. 

Alc Vol 13.3%, PH 3.60, TA 5.9