2020 Head Ancestor Vine Grenache
2020 Head Ancestor Vine Grenache

2020 Head Ancestor Vine Grenache

96 pts
Head Wines |Barossa Valley |Grenache
One of Australia's very best Grenache wines.
Price:
$99.00
Stock:
Sold out
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Description

In this Ancestor Vine Grenache, you can see Alex Head's winemaking passion and philosophy distilled into a single bottle.

From an ancient vineyard in Springton in the Eden Valley, these warhorse vines planted in 1858 yield fruit of dazzling concentration and complexity. In the hands of Alex, the fruit sings.

The attention to detail here is the thing that sets it apart. The fruit is delicately handled every step of the way. From hand picking to manual plunging and pigeage (foot stomping) twice a day, every effort is made to extract the maximum potency of flavour from these grapes. The aim here is clear, Alex says, "Made with complete respect to the fruit and aiming above the great CNDP (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) in terms of quality and longevity." He's aiming high and he is nailing it.

Make no mistake, this wine is a leading light in the Australian Grenache revolution. An ambitious project that has come to fruition. This is a wine not to be missed.

96 points
"Just beautiful drinking: a wine that is very composed and comfortable in its own skin. Savoury and fine."
- Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)
96 points
"The silken texture is a highlight. A delicious grenache."
- Huon Hooke (The Real Review)
95 points
"Fine-grained silky tannin, and a long fresh finish, maybe a little blood orange in the aftertaste, It’s very stylish and composed. Excellent."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

96 points - "The 163yo Stonegarden vineyard near Springton is one of the treasures of the Eden Valley. Experiencing a wine made from these ancestor vines is an exercise in texture, restraint and grace. Vivid plum and red fruits cut with exotic spice, fennel tops, ginger cake, cola and purple flowers. Just beautiful drinking: a wine that is very composed and comfortable in its own skin. Savoury and fine." - Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)

96 points - "Deep and bright red with purple tinges, smoky and ironstone aromas overlying sweet black fruits and a hint of tar; the palate is medium-full bodied, fleshy and rounded, with richness as well as elegance, the flavour of dark cherries and bitter herbs, nicely balanced throughout. The silken texture is a highlight. A delicious grenache." - Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

95 points - "Dark red fruit, raspberry coulis, pimento, rose and milk chocolate, a subtle mint to note. Medium-bodied, stony feel to it and cool acidity, quite the ‘mineral’ thing to it, with fine-grained silky tannin, and a long fresh finish, maybe a little blood orange in the aftertaste, It’s very stylish and composed. Excellent." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

From a 163-year-old vineyard planted near Springton, Eden Valley, on sandy loam,
decomposed granite over some yellow clays. 10% whole-bunch fermented in stainless steel, no crushing or temperature control, natural yeasts, hand plunged
and foot trodden twice daily for 2 weeks. Matured for 12 months in a large, old oak barrel.
Made with complete respect to the fruit and aiming above the great CNDP in terms
of quality, balance and longevity. Alex Head

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Full Bodied
Variety Grenache
Country Australia
Region Barossa Valley
Australian State SA
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
The Wine Front
The Real Review
Critic Score 96
95
Size 750ml
Vintage 2020
Closure Screw Cap

Head Wines

Alex Head has had what you might call a meteoric rise through the Australian wine industry. In his short career as a producer he has been heralded as one of the best Young Gun Winemakers, not only in the Barossa but the whole country.

With no formal training as a winemaker, the purity and balance inherent in the wines are amazing.

Alex has a passion for the old vineyards that populate the Barossa. With a keen eye for a good site, Alex has put together a formidable portfolio of vineyards which produce simply outstanding renditions of Shiraz and Grenache year-in, year-out. These are some of the most exciting wines in the Barossa.

Alex in the vines Barossa Valley, SA Head Wines

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