2025 Aphelion Plaisted's Vineyard Grenache Noir

96 pts
A stunningly savoury and structural new addition to the Aphelion single vineyard range off 80 year old vines in the lower Blewitt Springs.

Price:
Sale price$75.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

A brand new single vineyard Grenache from Aphelion, and it's a serious one.

The fruit comes from the middle section of Plaisted's vineyard, owned by the Hatwell family in the Blewitt Sands corner of lower Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. The vines went in back in 1947 on deep sandy soil, and they give tiny, thick-skinned berries with plenty of colour and structure. Only 100 dozen were made.

The 2025 was hand-picked and fermented as 100% whole bunches, slow and cool, then pressed to large neutral French oak, where it sat on full lees until bottling. It's arguably the most concentrated wine in the Aphelion single vineyard range: dark fruit, savoury edges, prominent tannin and serious drive. Think blueberry, dried black cherry and violets with sweet spice, herbs and a firm, long finish.

A serious, brooding, tense Grenache and a brilliant new addition to the ever-evolving Aphelion range.

96 points
"Magnificent grenache. So perfumed, so sure, so firm and yet so well extended... It's an epic release from Aphelion."
- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

94+ points
"There are some firmer edges here, a savouriness, a drier-toned quality, with notes of camphor and balsam across sour plum, dried black cherry and amaro herbs."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

96 points - "New wine to the Aphelion range. It’s from a vineyard at Blewitt Sands, planted in 1947, the fruit for this wine taken specifically from the middle section of the vineyard. Fruit was processed as 100% whole bunch before being pressed to large format neutral French oak. 100 dozen produced.

Magnificent grenache. So perfumed, so sure, so firm and yet so well extended. Velvety layers of blueberry, raspberry, violet and cedar come run through with sweet spice, mint, ozone and orange. The firm, extended control of the finish is a treat in itself. This is grenache as a foundation stone. It’s an epic release from Aphelion." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

94+ points - "From the Plaisted vineyard, Blewitt Sands district, lower Blewitt Springs, off 1947 vines planted to deep, sandy soils. From a quartet of single-site wines that are all elevated with ample air, this is the most reticent, needing time. There are some firmer edges here, a savouriness, a drier-toned quality, with notes of camphor and balsam across sour plum, dried black cherry and amaro herbs. That’s mirrored on the palate, with currently strident tannins and a cool acid line. It’s all in there, just so tightly wound, so compressed, with a long way to go to reveal itself properly. Stupidly academic, but this looked best on day five. The score will likely be humbled in time." - Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

palate

The most concentrated and full-bodied wine in the range, dark fruited in character with prominent tannin and intense drive.
region notes

Sourced from the middle section of the Plaisted’s vineyard in the Blewitt Sands area of McLaren Vale. Planted in 1947, this block is on deep sandy soil and provides fruit with very thick skins giving a deep colour and full structure.
winemakers comments

A new addition to our premium SV Grenache range, the fruit used to make this wine is sourced from a single vineyard in the Blewitt Sands area of McLaren Vale owned by the Hatwell family. The fruit was hand-picked on the 16th February and processed as a 100% whole bunch ferment. After a slow and cool ferment, the fruit was pressed to large format neutral French oak where it remained on full lees until racking for bottling in February 2026.
grape variety

100% Grenache

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Grenache
Country Australia
Region McLaren Vale
Australian State SA
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 96
Alcohol 14.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
Closure Screw Cap

Aphelion

Aphelion was established by Rob Mack and Louise Rhodes with a clear vision. They had one thing on their mind, to craft: "Genuine, Authentic, Quality McLaren Vale Grenache."

A couple of vintages in and they are right on the money. They have close relationships with local growers in the Vale who provide them with excellent Grenache fruit and Rob's deft touch in the winery takes care of the rest.

The range is slowly growing, as is their family. Their investigation into their pet variety is deepening, as is their fan base. The small batches of wine that come out of the Aphelion stable should have a close eye kept on them, more often than not there's something exciting and great value in the bottle.

Winemaker Rob Mack Aphelion

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