Category Archives: Grenache

2011 Yangarra Estate Old Vine Grenache

This impressed when I tasted it in the Vale a few months back and it’s looking even healthier with a bit more flesh on its bones now. Yangarra winemaker Pete Fraser is big on exposure and canopy management; it’s paid … Continue reading

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Hot and Cool: Nine Years of Heathcote Estate Shiraz

I arrived at the Stokehouse restaurant on the Brisbane river last month and said a brief hello to Heathcote Estate head winemaker Tom Carson, before taking a seat and tasting through nine vintages of the winery’s Estate Shiraz and a tenth wine, … Continue reading

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2011 Cirillo 1850 Old Vine Grenache Rosé

If I were running the Rosé Revolution (which I’m not), I’d ditch the pale, dry and textural manifesto and stick to Rosés made with intent and purpose. This wine is a deeper ruby/garnet colour in the glass. No paleness here but good … Continue reading

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2011 Cirillo The Vincent Grenache

The Vincent Grenache comes from the Steingarten vineyard near the border of the Eden and Barossa Valleys. It’s a more feminine and perfumed expression than the 1850 Old Vine wine, more so in 2011. It’s only light to medium bodied and doesn’t … Continue reading

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2008 Cirillo 1850 Old Vine Grenache

Over two years ago I wrote the following words - “I strongly suspect that Marco [Cirillo] is only getting better at this Old Vine Grenache business.” Well, the 2008  release goes a long way towards proving that statement. From a warm year comes … Continue reading

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Vale WWEI: Prepare to Meet Your Maker

Vale interloper Gods listen. Or at least that’s the conclusion I came to at the end of a three-day junket in McLaren Vale earlier in July. To begin with, I kind of muscled my way into the Queensland “Meet Your … Continue reading

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2010 Oliver’s Taranga Cadenzia Grenache

Cadenzia is the name a number of McLaren Vale wineries have chosen to give their Grenache based wines. It stems from the word ‘Cadenza’; an improvisational piece played by a soloist at the end of a musical performance. So the … Continue reading

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2009 Old Plains Terreno Old Vine Grenache

“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 … Continue reading

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The Red Stripe Comes of Age: d’Arenberg’s 100th Birthday Lunch

And it’s Time, Time, Time… Chester Osborn, who began his tenure as chief winemaker at d’Arenberg in 1984, was limping ever so slightly as he came to greet me. We were at Urbane for what turned out to be an … Continue reading

Posted in Adelaide Hills, Articles, Cabernet et al, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Grenache et al, McLaren Vale, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Shiraz, Shiraz et al, Wine Events, Wine Musings | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

2009 d’Arenberg The Custodian Grenache

Now this is the style of Grenache that personally turns me on. Possibly, that’s too much information. It’s narrower, more silken, soft and flowing. No confectionary within Cooee! It’s simplish but limpid and just really tasty. The price is great … Continue reading

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