96 points - "From the estate’s 1946-planted bush vines. Half whole berries, half crushed, with gentle pump overs and extended maceration on some parcels up to seven months; matured in older French puncheons, foudre, ceramic eggs and amphorae. This is quite a different wine to the 2022. That’s a tale of two seasons. Both cool, but the buttress of natural tannin in the 2022 is commanding and it is more compressed, needing time. This is prettily lifted, with cherry, cranberry, rosehip, dried orange peel, wild raspberry and red florals. It’s a gloriously fine and elegant expression of this cuvée, but it has tannic drive, line and length, savouriness, flavour depth and detail. Excellent." - Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "From 13.3 hectares of unirrigated bush vine Grenache, planted in 1946. Destemmed then fermented wild as 50/50 crushed and whole berries. Maceration on some parcels was as long as seven months. No pressings used. Matured in old French and Austrian foudres and puncheons, ceramic eggs and amphora. It was bottled in February for release in September, and has only just been sent out now. It feels nervy at first but it quickly settles and even before it has, a net of tannin has expanded and taken control. This grenache, even as it prances and skits, knows that it’s going to be good. It shows raspberry, cranberry and pomegranate characters, pippy and fruity, light and not light, a fish that can fly across the surface even as it dives for the deep. There’s a cleanliness to this wine but not a sterility; it presents its character in fresh, clean, intertwined lines. At $50 this wine remains a gift; intricacy of fruit, tannin and texture of this nature is rarely within such reach." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

95 points - "Winemaker Peter Fraser knows a thing or two about grenache and this is an example of how he has finessed the fruit from this cooler vintage to create a wine of elegance and refinement. The savoury dried herbs of Blewitt Springs bring it to a vibrant highly energised palate. In many ways atypically Australian, but very much a part of this regional and vineyard expression." - Ray Jordan (Wine Pilot)

The growing season began with significantly higher than average rainfall. The cool, wet conditions continued through Spring, setting us up for balanced canopies and lower yields. La Niña weather patterns forecast cooler temperatures and continued rainfall for harvest. We were able to enhance vineyard practices such as shoot thinning and leaf removal to promote airflow, reduce mildew and increase sun exposure to bunches. From our experience, a cold vintage in a warm region can produce some of the best wines. Due to the cultural practices implemented, we were able to pick the majority of the vineyard in a three-week window prior to Easter, completed in early April. Wines produced from this vintage will be some of the prettiest and most delicate from the Estate.

WINEMAKING

Sourced exclusively from 13.3 hectares of un-irrigated bush vines planted in 1946. Hand-picked between 17-24th March, selectively sorted in the winery. Gently destemmed, 50% crushed, 50% whole berries retained. Wild yeast fermentation in stainless steel. A very gentle pump over regime, often just wetting the cap. Some extended macerating where taming or polishing of tannin required and in some cases up to 7 months. No pressings used. Maturation in a mixture of old French and Austrian oak foudre and puncheons, ceramic egg and amphora. Certified Organic/Biodynamic. Bottled February 2024.

These gnarly strugglers were planted in 1946 in a deep sandy dune we call The Beach, overlying the North Maslin Sands geological formation. The Old Vine Grenache is a complex, perfumed and elegant wine with a trademark tannin structure.

Variety
100% Grenache Noir
Alcohol
13.5%
pH
3.35
Titratable Acidity
6.2 g/L
Vine Age
1946
Soil
White Sands
Region
Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale