Additional information
| Weight | 1.467 kg |
|---|
2005 Clarendon Hills Romas Grenache
$150.00 / bottle
Taste the terroir of Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale in this old vine, unfiltered, hand made flagship example. Clarendon Hills Romas Grenache is a single vineyard wine made from a patch of fruit on the steepest and rockiest section of the Blewitt Springs Grenache vineyard. Gnarly old vines planted in the 1940’s produce microscopic yields along with amazing acidity and present an acidity profile similar to that of a white wine. The density of the rocks and soil up in this part of the vineyard defines Romas and warrants its isolation from other parts of the vineyard and position as flagship Grenache expression at Clarendon Hills. The heavy presence of ironstone, quartz and shale rocks limit the size and yields of these vines and the resulting wine reflects the mineral elements. The expression we receive from this highly concentrated part of the vineyard is utterly hedonistic and offers mineral complexity for the wine collectors and enthusiasts out there. Typically each vintage yields a vivid kaleidoscope of fresh cut roses, Turkish delight, musk, sherbert, blood orange, blueberry, raspberry and kirsch fruit across an effortless powerful palate aloft with silk and ultra fine talcum like extract. Nuances of crushed rock, flint, graphite, iodine and ferrous like rust take this expression to the next level. Despite the majesty of the tasting note the profile is medium weighted and mirrors an iron fist in the velvet glove analogy. Amazing both right now to drink and also for the next 20 years in the cellar.
Specifications
RegionRegion
Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. A sprawling hillside region 10 kms North East of McLaren Vale town centre famous for its added comparative elevation and abundant hillside aspects whose rich ironstone and deep sand deposits forge individual and highly fragrant wines. The Romas Grenache is a single site wine from a bush vine patch planted in the 1940’s. This is the steepest stoniest section of the Blewitt Springs Grenache site previously tasted. The old gnarly bush vines are dry grown and are extremely low yielding. This site has a due East aspect and is located at 240 metres above sea level and represents Blewitt Springs’ higher altitude stony geology with less sands and more quartz, ironstone and shale content. The rocky soils impact most noticeably on reduced yields and added concentration.
Conditions
Idyllic growing conditions with above average crop levels were recorded in 2018 harvest. Bunch thinning was almost looking a certainty to realign the balance of the vines’ concentration however thick vine canopies pulled the fruit in back to line and all fruit was subsequently evenly ripened and every bunch looked exceptional upon arrival at the winery. 2018 vintage is an exceptional vintage and high quality can be seen right across the board with entry level wines and icons alike enjoying one of the best years on record..
Winemaking
Low yielding, dry grown vines from the Blewitt Springs region in McLaren Vale were hand-picked and followed by a 60% whole berry, wild yeast fermentation. All pressings were returned to barrel and eventually bottled onsite without fining or filtration after 18 months in French Oak. The Romas Grenache represents our flagship example of single vineyard old vine Grenache.
Maturation
18 months, within a hierarchy of 1-5 year old tightly grained French Oak. Bottled at the winery with no fining or filtration.
Grape Variety
100% Grenache, single vine, old vines
Closure
DIAM
Production
3000 bottles
Winemaker
Roman Bratasiuk
“Tasted alongside the scintillating and close-to-perfect 2020 Romas, the 2018 Romas Grenache is typified by richness. It is an incredible wine of density and line. The wine has aged slowly—blood and petals are in the foreground. What an incredible example—I can understand why the wines are released at two years of age, because the lightness and luminescence is there for all to see; but the wine moves quickly through its aging evolution, and the wines only two and three years older have already moved beyond youthful luminescence to savory exotic spice. Awesome. This is brilliant.”
96+/100
- Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin
