2022 Vanguardist Grenache
Regular price $65.00
Unit price per
REVIEW
“This release marks a significant milestone, as for the first time, we’ve extended the wine’s release to 24 months—a goal long held and now achieved. The key to this two-year cycle lies in the wine’s second winter spent in large format oak (Foudre),” 2800 bottles produced (50% down on the 2021 vintage). These wines often have a Nebbiolo-like quality to them (which I love), and no change here. Release is March 2024.
Cherry, liquorice root, dried roses, mint, cinnamon and sweet spice; so aromatic and compelling. It’s medium-bodied, distinctly stony and ferrous, with cool acidity, flavour delivered with restraint and lack of overt sweetness, superb length and balance. The fine chalky tannin, the precision – all just so. An outstanding Grenache. Is it the best Australian Grenache? I think maybe so. Superb.
97 POINTS
Gary Walsh
THE WINE FRONT
__________________________________________________________________________________________
The Vanguardist range represents the epitome of what we are about. Pushing the realms of standard winemaking to deliver intrigue, excitement and utmost quality...without any loss of sense of place. Ultimate dedication to the craft of viticulture and winemaking, encapsulated in a bottle – through our lens.
OLD BUSH VINE GRENACHE FARMED ORGANICALLY BY ROBERT RENDE AND VANGUARDIST
VINEYARD AND WINERY
The Grenache used in crafting this wine originates from the magical 'Silver Sands' vineyard in Blewitt Springs, a hidden gem planted over 50 years ago by Robert Rende and his father, Michael. This vintage is the eighth release of this wine and the viticulture is now fully managed by Michael J Corbett.
Mother nature dealt a season with very moderate temperatures, marked by coolness and abundant rainfall during the summer and around harvest time. The cooler season contributed to the wine showing a captivating tension, finesse, elevated acidity, refined tannins, prominent lifted fruits, and distinct minerality.
First pick from this vineyard for 2022 was on March 9th, with subsequent picks on the 13th, 17th, and 23rd. Pressure and tensions were high while assessing the fruit readiness and looming weather forecasts. The duration of the harvest spanned 14 days in entirety, a contrast to the 8-week picking period seen in 2021. However, 2022 yielded around a similar 38HL/Ha, still maintaining close to the 50+ year long-term average.
This release marks a significant milestone, as for the first time, we've extended the wine's release to 24 months—a goal long held and now achieved. The key to this two-year cycle lies in the wine's second winter spent in large format oak (Foudre), followed by bottling at the point when the cellar temperature becomes perfect for bottling. This extended period allows for additional bottle aging before its official release in March 2024.
Limited to just 250 dozen bottles, approximately half the production of the 2021 vintage, this wine stands as a testament to our commitment to quality. Bottled without any fining or filtration.
250 dozen produced + 60 x 1.5L magnum
Closure: DIAM Origine 10 49x24.2mm
FS02: at bottling 24ppm
TSO2: 58ppm
pH: 3.33
TA: 6.2g/L
Alcohol: 13.9%