Additional information
| Weight | 1.467 kg |
|---|
2023 Domaine Clarendon Grenache
$35.00 / 750ml bottle
The 2023 Domaine Clarendon Grenache offers remarkable value and an insight to the Old Vine Grenache stable of Clarendon Hills. Offering unbridled charm and luxurious opulence in every glass there’s an abundance of juicy fresh characters to enjoy. With a nose of lavender and rose and cherry, cranberry, blood orange and raspberry. The flowing palate is equipped with bright acidity and a basket of forrest berry flavours. The tannin is like fine and talcum like and the palate demonstrates an illumination of natural acid and strawberry flavours. The 2023 vintage is the best La Niña vintage of the last 3 years and one I implore you must try.
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 region enjoys added comparative elevation to its surrounding McLaren Vale districts and its abundantly flowing hillside aspects have a deeper hidden secret to their prominence: 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.
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 monthsc in only well seasoned, high end, French Oak.
Maturation
18 months, within a hierarchy of 4-10 year old tightly grained French Oak. Bottled at the winery with no fining or filtration.
Grape Variety
100% Old Vine Grenache
Closure
DIAM
Production
18,000 bottles
Winemaker
Roman Bratasiuk
Perfumed aromas of blackberries, mulberry bush, dark chocolate and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and bright acidity, showing pomegranate, raspberry puree and fresh herbs. Great value. Drink or hold.
93/100
Domaine Clarendon Grenache 2023
- James Suckling, Ryan Montgomery, June 2025
The entry level, if you will, made from declassified fruit/wine from the three proprietary Blewitt Springs sites. The trajectory here is for brighter styles, though the graph curve is gradual. The house style remains, and there is no harm in that, given its history. Expect a deeply red-fruited, slightly meaty style, moody with sultry florals, black cherry, dried herbs and warmed whole brown spices. It’s a fine introduction to the Clarendon Hills oeuvre, and at a more than fair tariff.
93/100
Domaine Clarendon Grenache 2023
- Wine Companion, Marcus Ellis
The 2023 Domaine Clarendon Grenache leads with a bouquet that is stubbornly resisting any alignment with the palate. There are two stories in this glass: one—the first—is told by the aromas: black, tarry, intense peat, licorice, blackstrap, biltong and crushed rocks, even a hint of crushed ant. The second story is told by the fruit in the mouth: succulent, vividly red and purple, compote in composure, saturating and palate staining. One assumes that for these two aspects of the wine to come together, you must decant it. Already it is starting to coalesce, but it has been 20 minutes in the glass. This is a powerful, inky rendition of this wine—and one not to be taken lightly. This is a whole lot of wine for the money. 14% alcohol, sealed under Diam.
- Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin
