Winemaker Notes
The Vincent offers inviting aromas of rich fruit and white pepper. The palate is generous with intense true varietal characteristics. It’s delicately rounded and generous. A superb Grenache that has a lingering finish. A wine that can be enjoyed now, or well into the future.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 The Vincent Survivor Vine Grenache is 100% Grenache and comes from vines that were planted in 1906 and 1901. This is textural, supple and spicy—not a complicated equation—and it's good. The 2021 Vincent retails at AUD $25, which I’ve just suggested is a little low… It was harvested across three picks for natural acidity, different tannin profiles and natural de-alcoholization. All parcels were gently destemmed and fermented separately, wild ferments, no malic additions. The wine was blended post ferment. "2022 was not dissimilar to 2021," says Marco Cirillo, "in terms of its ease and quality—bar the hail event in late October. That same night, there was 100-kilometer-per-hour winds, so everything that was half f***** by the hail was totally f***** by the wind." This sentiment was echoed by a number of producers that I spoke to in the region. High quality across the board, but some severe damage in parts, too.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
Historically and presently the most important wine-producing region of Australia, the Barossa Valley is set in the Barossa zone of South Australia, where more than half of the country’s wine is made. Because the climate is very hot and dry, vineyard managers work diligently to ensure grapes reach the perfect levels of phenolic ripeness.
The intense heat is ideal for plush, bold reds, particularly Shiraz on its own or Rhône Blends. Often Shiraz and Cabernet partner up for plump and powerful reds.
While much less prevalent, light-skinned varieties such as Riesling, Viognier or Semillon produce vibrant Barossa Valley whites.
Most of Australia’s largest wine producers are based here and Shiraz plantings date back as far as the 1850s or before. Many of them are dry farmed and bush trained, still offering less than one ton per acre of inky, intense, purple juice.