Winemaker Notes
Crimson with plum red hue. Lifted red fruit aromas such as red currants, red cherry and white plum. Hints of earth and clove balances the savory tones.
Medium –bodied, textural with long acid spine balanced by tight and long yet refined tannins
Serve and pair with lamb dishes.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 season was spectacular in the Barossa, and many producers credit this vintage as being responsible for some of their best ever wines. In terms of early drinkability, I believe the following 2022 season was preferable, and I have found that my preference lies with the following vintage in most instances. However, the structure and fruit power of the 20201 season is undeniable, and the wines from this season may prove to be the winners in the long term. A number of producers who I have spoken to about this liken the pair of vintages to the great 1990 and 1991 vintages—both very different and both excellent. Here, the 2021 Hillside Vineyard Grenache is balanced and fresh, powerful and long, and even after tasting it at the beginning of this note, I can still perceive the abundance of red fruit, the savory tannins and the impressive length of flavor. This is a great wine here. 15% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.
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Wine Spectator
Perfumed and intense, with notes of fresh violet and dried rose petal, a core of fresh red fruit flavors and a touch of juicy blood orange at the core. Reveals toasted herbs and savory hints of forest floor and oolong tea that linger on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2036.
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Wine Enthusiast
From over-70-year-old bush vines, this Barossa Grenache opens with succulent red- and blackberry fruit backed by a dried herb and floral nuance, along with vanillin oak. It flows to a palate that's full-figured with powerful, mouthcoating tannins but with plenty of plush, juicy berry fruit, too. It's a big, ripe expression of this variety—but a balanced one with elegance and complexity—that needs a pork chop or other savory protein, or a few more years in bottle.
Cellar Selection
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.