About The Pack
Modern Australian Grenache-land is a happy hunting ground for those seeking a bargain.
While Shiraz and Pinot Noir still get the lion's share of the attention, Grenache offers great early drinkability and for the savvy buyer, very good bang for your buck.
Here's six of our favourites that punch well above their weight.
2017 Cirillo The Vincent Grenache
The Cirillo Vincent Grenache lays claim year after year to be one of the country's best value Grenache, and the 2017 is no exception.
Marco Cirillo's family lays claim to the world's oldest Grenache vines, the most ancient of them dating back to 1850. The Vincent is the baby of the bunch made from a blend of 80, 90 and 100-year-old vine material.
Vincent is a charismatic character, just like his maker. It bucks the trend of big, sweet, oaky Barossa Grenache and sits firmly in the bright, cheery and gluggable camp. A portion of whole bunches give it a lifted perfume and silky texture, while the use of older French oak and stainless steel ensure this is a lot brighter and bouncier than many of its Barossa
Read more about 2017 Cirillo The Vincent Grenache2016 Sons of Eden Kennedy GSM
The Sons of Eden philosophy is focused around what the Barossa does best, and this Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre blend is a brilliant example of what the label is all about.
Not only that, it's hands down one of the best value GSMs in the country!
It's named after the Kennedy family who owned the 50+ year old, low yielding Grenache vineyard that makes up the majority of this wine. The Shiraz and Mourvedre fruit has similar old vine pedigree giving the wine great concentration, with the restrained use of older French oak really allowing the gorgeous fruit to do the talking.
The 2016 vintage was perfect for the SOE style. Loads of fruit weight without heaviness and the quintessential lushness that you want from the Barossa. An absolute steal.
Read more about 2016 Sons of Eden Kennedy GSM2017 Bondar Wines Junto GSM
In only a few short vintages this dynamic couple have carved out a niche for their eponymous label as one of the most exciting and in demand wineries in McLaren Vale.
Drinkability writ is large across the range. The 'Junto' (Spanish for 'together') is a wine made for easily enjoying with friends and family. The 2017 may be the best release of this wine to date.
The Grenache component a little higher than in previous years (91%), the whole wine feels a little lighter on its feet and is all the better for it. This is as delicious as medium-bodied reds get from this part of the world. Incredibly versatile and impossibly more-ish, Andre and Selina have done it again.
Read more about 2017 Bondar Wines Junto GSM2017 Head Red GSM
Made by the formidable Alex Head from a barrel declssification of some of his best wines, the Grenache fruit comes from an assortment of vineyards planted in the Barossa as far back as 1942.
The portion of Mourvedre is from Seppeltsfield and the Shiraz from one of his favourite vineyards in Krondorf.
In this compact, delightful little wine you reap the benefits of decades worth of viticulture and a mastercraftsman winemaker.
For $25, there are few wines in the Barossa that can hold a candle to this little number.
A brilliant value and amazingly versitile modern Australian Red wine.
Read more about 2017 Head Red GSM2017 Somos Tintito
This is a mystery red blend from Ben and Mauricio at Somos wines.
It's a compilation of predominantly red Rhone varieties with a few other bits and pieces thrown in for fun. The aim here was to create "A wine driven by primary berry fruit, savoury spice and acid line. Textural light red." and they've nailed the MO.
This is a top value little red and is squarely in no-brainer territory for those chasing a medium-bodied red that is loaded with charisma.
Read more about 2017 Somos Tintito2017 Jericho GSM
McLaren Vale 'GSM' blends work so very well, and this wine from the good people at Jericho is a contemporary, joyous celebration of the style.
The Grenache fruit comes from two mature vineyards, one 85 years old and one 40 years old in the Blewitt Springs area - a sub-region that is home to many of the Vale's finest and most perfumed Grenache.
Owner and winemaker Neil Jericho explained to us that while the Shiraz (10%) and Mataro (3%) components definitely add something to this wine, the hero is Grenache (87%). Juicy, jubey, delicious Grenache!
This has been one of the great go-to GSMs from this region for a few years now and the 2017 doesn't miss a beat.
Read more about 2017 Jericho GSM