Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2001 Grenache Old Vines Clarendon Vineyard's soaring aromatics envelop the olfactory senses offering up notes of freshly ground pepper, spice box, plums, figs, black cherries, and balsam wood. Full-bodied, thick, and unctuously-textured with great finishing acidity that gives delineation and uplift to the wine's enormous concentration and overall purity, it is a stunning example of old vine Grenache that should drink well for a decade.
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Wine Spectator
Rich in flavor and beautifully focused, a mini-explosion of dark berry, cherry, white pepper and crème fraîche flavors that last impressively on the juicy finish, picking up a nice hint of mineral. Tannins are firm but refined.
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.
Known for opulent red wines with intense power and concentration, McLaren Vale is home to perhaps the most “classic” style of Australian Shiraz. Vinified on its own or in Rhône Blends, these hot-climate wines are deeply colored and high in extract with signature hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced in a similar style.
Whites, often made from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc tend to be opulent and full of tropical, stone and citrus fruit.