d'Arenberg The Classics Derelict Vineyard Grenache 2020 x 12
The derelict vineyard Grenache 2020
McLaren Vale, Grenache (100%)
The Name
At a time when Grenache was considered
unfashionable Chester Osborn maintained
a vigilant search for old vine McLaren Vale
Grenache vineyards, showing faith in a
variety that has been central to d’Arenberg
since the very beginning. His search
unveiled a number of old bush vine and
poorly maintained trellised vineyards in
various states of disrepair.
The Vintage
Winter and Spring rains were quite good
which meant vigour was high. October
and November saw some cooler weather
which made flowering and set spread out
over a long period with an intense short
heat wave in the middle of set reducing the
crop significantly. A nice rain on the 1st of
February set the vines up well and mild to
cool, dry, weather prevailed. A few slightly
warmer nights in the later part of ripening
helped the last sugar push. Yields were
down significantly, the lowest in memory,
however, quality is exceptional. Some of the
best wines seen for years. Great colour, fruit
characters, flavours and length.
The Winemaking
Walking the vineyard rows and tasting
grapes, Chester determines the ideal picking
time for each individual vineyard.
Small batches of grapes are gently crushed
and then transferred to open fermenters.
Foot treading is undertaken two thirds of
the way through fermentation, the wine is
basket pressed and transferred to a mixture
of new and old French oak to complete
fermentation and mature for 12 months.
Harvest dates
Residual sugar
12 Mar - 21 Mar
0.6 g/l
The Characteristics
The deep colour makes an announcement
on how intense this wine will be. Fresh on
the nose with a mix that starts evolving from
red fruits like raspberry and rhubarb, goes
through spicy notes and finish with more
black fruits like plum and liquorice. The
palate is superb. An initial wave of fresh red
fruits, cherries and raspberries makes room
for a rich and spicy impact in the mid-palate.
Herbal notes freshen the tone. The acidity is
on point with the medium body and precise
oak treatment. The tannins are firm and
polished. Outstanding quality, ready to enjoy
now but will cellar for longer if this is what
you are after.
Alcohol
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