Additional information
| Weight | 1.467 kg |
|---|
2023 Clarendon Hills Blewitt Springs Old Vine Grenache
$65.00 / bottle
The 2023 Clarendon Hills Blewitt Springs Old Vine Grenache is in my opinion, its best ever release to date and the superlative 2023 vintage has really bought to life the best attributes of this vineyard. A single vineyard expression sourced from a Blewitt Springs site planted in 1945 and located in the famous deep sands district of the region. These classic old, goblet style, bush vines produce absolutely magnificent fruit each year due to the deep sands of the terroir that make the vines shoot their roots extremely deep and produce a extremely lifted and iconic perfume as a result. The highly mineral driven and exotic fruit on the perfume typically reveals notes of red cherry, raspberry and Turkish Delight notes while its the musk, violets, iodine and crushed rock and baking spice perfumes that elevate everything to a highly exotic, hedonistic state. The talcum like extract makes for a textured mouthfeel reserves the power and highlights tension and omnipresent waves of intensity. The 2023 release offers brilliant Turkish Delight notes throughout the expression and is absolutely spectacular to enjoy.
Specifications
RegionRegion
Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale is a sprawling hillside region 12 kms North East of McLaren Vale town centre. Famous for its deep sands and many flowing hillsides, Blewitt Springs is home to some of the oldest Old Vine Grenache plantations in the world. The Blewitt Springs Grenache Vineyard was planted circa 1945. The region enjoys added comparative elevation to its surrounding McLaren Vale districts and its abundantly flowing hillside aspects have a mineral rich subterranean, highly decayed layer of ironstone and quartz that impart a myriad of nuanced mineral notes to the wines produced. The 6 km proximity to the Great Southern Ocean and St Vincents Gulf also imparts a gift of Chardonnay like acidity to the reds which impart an infinite freshness to the wine style. The Blewitt Springs Old Vine Grenache vineyard is a single vineyard expression from an old gnarly low yielding bush vine patch of Grenache on the deepest sands section of our "Blewitt Springs Vineyard". This section has a South/SouthWest aspect and receives the cooler morning sun and complete shade in the afternoon. It is located at 230 metres above sea level.
Conditions
The 2023 vintage was the third La Niña growing cycle in a row of vintages since 2021. The markedly cool and late ripening seasons of La Niña, of the 3 last vintages, 2023 would turn out to the latest overall picked and best overall vintage of the trio. The relentlessly wet winter of 2022 continued in to a wet and warm and unusually humid spring time encouraging optimal canopies and fruit set. However very mild summer ensued and the vineyards did not record a 40 degree Celsius day for the Summer, which was unique. The mild Summer delayed the onset of veraison as a result. Autumn soon arrived and so did perfect sunny 21 degree weather every day coupled with very cool nights. Eventual full maturity came approximately 3-4 weeks later than the already late 2022 vintage. The result: amazingly exquisite fruit with preserved acidity and remarkable floral aromas. Some of the most exceptional fruit that we have picked in recent years. Throughout the entire production process from grapes approaching full ripeness, at the crusher, in the tank, in the press, out of the barrel and in to our glasses the 2023 wines have demonstrated another very special layer. The floral component and perfectly portrayed fruit core gives these wines a an uncanny precociousness to them.
Winemaking
Low yielding, dry grown vines from the Blewitt Springs region in McLaren Vale were hand-picked and followed by a 40% whole berry, 100% destemmeed, wild yeast fermentation. Gently pressed and returned to barrel for 18 months in only well seasoned, high end, French Oak.
Maturation
18 months, within a hierarchy of 3-9 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
