Winemaker Notes
This wine possesses a beautifully complex, aromatic nose of violets, wild cherry, rosemary and warming spice. The palate is energetic yet polished and smooth with vibrant cherry, spice, wild strawberry and licorice on the palate. Medium bodied but multilayered and textural with a very long, aromatic finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This showcases the power of Blewitt Springs in a very boldly stated, fruit-driven expression of grenache with real purpose. The aromas are of redcurrants, raspberries, pomegranate and blood oranges and lead to a palate with a phenomenal drive of acidity and tannin. Such intense and defined style here. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 The Vagabond Old Vine Grenache is now five years of age, and it's quickly sinking into its more tertiary phase. I do find this commonly in McLaren Vale Grenache; they seem to move quite rapidly here from the vivid nature they possess on release. They stay at this point for a long time, though, which is attractive. The core of fruit on the mid-palate remains, yet it is wrapped in an autumnal sheath of dried figs, cracked autumn leaves, mahogany furniture and old books. It is sitting on the cusp of tertiary here, and I expect it to remain this way for some time. It's bloody, a little meaty, ferruginous and spicy. Fascinating. 14.5% alcohol.
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Wine & Spirits
This grows at several parcels in Blewitt Springs, all dry farmed bush vines, all planted on sand over ironstone. This wine fermented spontaneously in two portions: Two thirds of it was left alone in concrete, in layers of whole bunches and crushed fruit. The rest was hand plunged in an open-top fermenter. Whatever that might bring to the wine, it’s pretty delicious, the Blewitt Springs sands delivering a beautifully fresh grenache in layers of red fruit—currant, strawberry, cranberry and red-apple skin. The airy, super mineral tannins bring some dark green-olive tones.
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Wine Spectator
Aromatic and detailed, this red offers juicy maraschino cherry, blood orange, pomegranate, clove, green tea, cedar, lavender and fresh loamy notes that are precise and elegant, followed by a long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2031.
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.