Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The fruit was ready for picking, and then we had three inches of rain, which is exactly what you don't want with Grenache. And this is an elegant Romas, because of the rain. The Grand Pix was on that weekend, and it was washed out. Totally uncharacteristic," says Roman Bratasiuk. This 1999 Grenache Old Vines Romas Vineyard is the first time that the Grenache parcels at Clarendon Hills were split across two different cuvées—this and the Old Vine Blewitt Springs Vineyard. Aromatically, the wine is black fruited and spicy, with clove, peppercorns, dark chocolate, roasted meat and tapenade. This is a powerhouse. Still, I am reminded of what this could have been without the rain. The tannins are profuse but have a certain elegance to them, and they linger through the finish.
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.