This Friday is International Grenache Day and according to the winemakers at Ox Hardy and Yalumba, Grenache is so versatile you can drink it any time of day.
My experiences with Grenache have up until now been with very high alcohol reds, around the 15 per cent mark, while for others Grenache has been considered “second rate to Shiraz” or a grape suited to fortifieds. So, the Yalumba and Ox Hardy Grenache tasting held in late August, and hosted by Jessica Hill-Smith, was a delicious surprise.
Senior Winemaker for Yalumba, Kevin Glastonbury (pictured right) and Ox Hardy Wines, Andrew Hardy both agree that Grenache is riding the wave of what they describe as “the Pinot Noir revolution”. The wines shared for this tasting were bright, well-structured and refreshing.
Grenache is one of the most widely planted grapes in the world and was one of the first varieties planted in South Australia, with plantings in McLaren Vale in the late 1830s and the Barossa in the early 1840s. One of the keys to the brightness of this new generation of Grenache is picking the fruit before it goes to full ripeness, going for “red fruit rather than towards the black fruit spectrum,” explained Mr Glastonbury.
A star performer in both regions, it continues to thrive today, producing vibrant and aromatic wines which are ideal with food. Mr Hardy had indulged in a little Grenache with his yum cha that morning but the varietal is equally suited to seafood platters in the sun or a cheese platter at sunset.
The wines shared for the tasting were:
Yalumba The Tri-Centenary Grenache 2019 – RRP $65
This new vintage release wine is made from fruit handpicked from old, gnarly bush vines planted in 1889 in two acres of deep sandy loam soil in the Barossa Valley. The grapes were left on skins for 249 days “to get all the maturation it needs,” explained Mr Glastonbury. “Unique in premium winemaking, especially in reds,” he said, describing the wine as "an example of what we are doing with a single site. A beautiful and pure expression of what Grenache can be.”
Yalumba Vine Vale Grenache 2021 – RRP $40
This Grenache “shows what a single vineyard can do”, blended from two blocks of vines planted in Barossa’s sandy loam soils in 1929 and 1949, explained Mr Glastonbury. This wine is an on-premise exclusive, a favourite with sommeliers and their customers.
“This is a wine that changes people’s minds about the kind of wines that come out of the Barossa,” said Mr Glastonbury.
Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache 2020 – RRP $28
Ms Hill-Smith described this as an entry point Grenache that is a consistent performer year after year. This light-bodied and highly aromatic wine shows the bright Barossa Grenache flavours at their individual best.
Ox Hardy McLaren Vale Grenache 2021 – RRP $38
Mr Hardy’s new vintage release is made with fruit from McLaren Vale and drawn from four blocks across three vineyards in Blewitt Spings. He describes it as “lighter, fresher and aromatic. Fermented in oak and likes a bit of chill”.
Special mention
A shout out also to Hentley Farm in the Barossa Valley. Its 2021 The Old Legend Grenache won the Sydney Royal’s new trophy for Best Grenache and was an absolute crowd favourite. This outstanding wine due for release next month.
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