97 POINTS – Wine Pilot, Ken Gargett
“Apparently, ‘Harena’ is an ancient Roman word meaning arena. In Roman times, their arenas were sandy stages for gladiatorial battles. This wine is from the 90-year-old bush vines planted in the sandy soils of the McLaren Vale sub-region of Blewitt Springs. That may seem somewhat of a tenuous link but it matters little. What does matter is that even in today’s glory days for old vine Grenache, this wine stands out as something extra special. Under cork (which for me, is less special). After pressing, the wine went into 50% two-year-old and 50% older French oak hogsheads. The wine includes 15% whole bunches. The colour here is a purple/crimson. The aromas include spices, red cherries, cold tea, raspberries, smoked meats, a hint of game. This is a beautifully elegant wine with serious length. The balance is immaculate and there is fine acidity running the full journey. Lacy tannins. This is a stunning Grenache by any standards. Promises good drinking for at least the next ten years.”

95 POINTS – Wine Pilot, Ray Jordan,
“Grenache, oh wonderful grenache. McLaren vale is one of the best regions for this variety. It’s typically fine and elegant delivering a suave palate of poise and elegance. Bright red fruits with a floral note underpinning by just a little fresh turned earth character. Has a lovely grainy fine gravelly palate.”

95 POINTS – Wine Orbit, Sam Kim
“Offering fabulous fruit purity and perfume, the bouquet shows Black Doris plum, blueberry, floral and mixed spice aromas with a hint of vanilla. It’s succulent and supple in the mouth displaying plump mouthfeel combined with silky tannins, finishing splendidly long and soothing. At its best: now to 2037.”

95 POINTS – Wine Pilot, Jeni Port
“Mitolo likes to surprise, stretch the envelope, move beyond general expectations. Hence, we experience a different view of Grenache here, one that is firm, fine featured, red fruited and without little or any of the usual sweet confection notes. The sandy soils of Blewitt Springs, a sub-region of McLaren Vale, bring out this “other” side beautifully. Violets and earthy aromas mingle with black pepper, plum and black cherry. The wine’s lifted florals – juniper, rosemary, anise, black pepper – are a real feature, an exotic note, infiltrating every part of the wine. Falls effortlessly across the tongue with tannins deliciously fresh and supple. A ripper of a wine.”

95 POINTS – Wine Pilot, Shanteh Wale
“Picked blackberries, mulberry and cassis. Red tulip, raspberry and Bing cherries. Rosemary, bay leaf and thyme. Granite, tar and clove studs. Lovely pockets of sage and woodsy herbs which unfold on the palate with tannic grip and angular shape. It’s a nice contrast to the brooding black fruit aroma profile. Bitter dark chocolate and cola spice on the finish. It’s the unique shape of the wine that has me intrigued and reaching for another sip. Drink now and will cellar 3-5 years. Serve with a juicy steak sandwich and you’ll be satisfied.”

The modern-day English word ‘arena’ derives from what Ancient Romans referred to as ‘Harena’ – the sandy battleground on which gladiators performed their thrilling spectacles. Sourced from 90 year-old bush vines in the deep sands of Blewitt Springs, famed for producing some of the world’s finest Grenache.

TASTING NOTE
Alluring fragrance of sweet flowers, mulberry, raspberry, blackberry and cherry all carry over to the highly textured and svelte palate, meshed with layers of fine, silky and gravelly tannins. The expansive flavour profile gains exciting tension as the tannins build to a savoury intensity, finishing with impressive length of fruit and long succulent acidity.

WINEMAKING
Handpicked and whole berry destemmed into 2 tonne open fermenters. Half of the fruit was cold soaked for two days prior to inoculation, while the other half was inoculated immediately and included 15% whole bunches. Pumped over twice daily during ferment with rack and return used during peak ferment. To begin temperatures were kept cool, but were allowed to rise up to 32˚C to extract sufficient tannin. Once pressed, the wine was transferred to 50% 2 year old, and 50% seasoned French Oak Hogs Head barrels for 10 months maturation. The final wine was bottled without fining and receiving only light filtration.

VINEYARD
Brookmans Road, Blewitt Springs

At an elevation of 190m above sea level, old bush vines are dry grown in Maslin Sand over ironstone. The sandy soils, due to their lower water holding capacity and less organic matter, control Grenache’s tendency to become too vigorous, reducing yields and keeping berry size small, while also allowing greater flavour and tannin ripeness. Cooler average temperatures from the higher elevation maintain freshness of aromatics and balanced acidity in the wine.