Today we present to you the latest evolution of one of our favourite Australian cult labels, Tonic Wines, now owned and operated solely by winemaker Glenn Barry. These wines, the reds in particular, always sell out in a flash. With considerably less fruit available in 2020 they will fly. Don't sleep on them, this has been our most requested release in months and they will disappear.
The Tonic story has long been one of an undercover hero, but no longer. Barry, Tonic co-founder and the man behind the wines, has fully stepped out of the shadows this year with three excellent new wines under his wing, all with a fresh new look.
The Grenache, the heart and soul of the Tonic range, has had a significant tweak in 2020 and is in career-best form. Full flavoured but fresh-feeling, this wine hails mostly from two 60-year-old vineyards in McLaren Vale, with just a little Clare Valley fruit finding its way in there for what is likely the final time. It's darker, more concentrated and plusher than previous releases and all the better for it. The brightness and energy of the Tonic Grenache have always been this wine's signature traits - this year those characters are complemented by a much higher proportion of the rich, luxurious fruit of the Vale. It's a standout release - quite possibly our favourite Tonic Grenache of all time.
The newcomer this year is very exciting... Tonic Wines now has a Shiraz in its arsenal! A transformative bottle of Dard & Ribo Rhone Valley Syrah stuck a chord with Glenn back in 2017. It started him wondering if a similar sense of vibrancy and purity could be achieved in Barossa Shiraz. Well, he's nailed his first attempt. It's a very modern style of Shiraz from this region, the fruit picked with freshness in mind and all fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve the Barossa's signature power and richness, without heavy oak weighing it down. It's a dynamic wine. Bold, perky, savoury, slippery and so very seductive to drink. It gets our full-hearted recommendation.
Finally, a long-time favourite of ours, the Tonic Chardonnay, has had a facelift - and not just on the packaging. This wine, previously from the Adelaide Hills, is now made from Yarra Valley fruit. The previous vineyard source was tragically burnt to the ground in the 2020 Lenswood bushfires. Luckily for Glenn, some friends in the Yarra Valley came to the rescue with a lovely parcel of fruit from Coldstream. It's a little lighter and more citrus-driven than previous iterations, and it spent a little longer in oak but the drinking appeal remains every bit as high.
It's a tremendous trio from the Tonic shed. Three wines, three new chapters in the Tonic story. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did. Secure your stocks below while they last!
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