“How old are the vines?” I hear you ask. Judging from the website, at least 50 year-old material goes into the wine with at least one of the vineyards planted “post WWII by Italian migrants, returned servicemen and ex POW’s during the 50′s”. So there you go.
There’s power and depth here, no doubt. There’s also a hell of a lot of coffeed, chocolate oak. Too much for my tastes but I’m rather particular when it comes to oak and Grenache. It’s earthen and aniseedy but ripples with raspberry syrup and redskin flavour. Black cherries on the side. The ferrous notes are most welcome and help temper the sweetness. A fair amount of grainy, wood derived tannin to hold it in good stead over the next five to ten years. Not a wine that I can whole heartedly endorse but at the price you could do a lot worse. Good
Region: Adelaide Plains
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Diam
Price: $25
Tasted: July 2012
I kind of liked how OTT this wine was. Not for everyone
Yes, I think there’s appeal here. I enjoyed the first glass but it just got a bit sweet and oaky for me after that. And I really do like to see Grenache handled in a different way to a lot of Shiraz. But I think you’re spot on – not for everyone, yet many will love what it offers…and more power to them.
Tasted the 2008 vintage, quite similar in description , sweet , floral , oak.. 15 % alcohol very good .
I can imagine that it would have been a big’un in 2008 with the warm vintage and all. Mind you, if there’s a grape that can handle 15% ABV then it’s Grenache.