Additional information
| Weight | 1.467 kg |
|---|
2024 Domaine Clarendon Grenache
$35.00 / 750ml bottle
The 2024 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 2024 vintage is an exceptional vintage brimming with forest fruits and wonderful perfume.
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
Wet and humid growing conditions in 2023 persisted throughout the year and continued in to the Spring time and Summer that preceded the 2024 harvest. The warm and wet conditions encouraged the Old Vine Grenache vineyards to shoot many buds and all Grenache sites were 25% heavier than usual. Slightly heavy crops were relatively behind ripening schedule in Summer but the clearing of the wet conditions in 2024 mid January lead to fantastic ripening period across late January to March. Large healthy bush vine canopies pulled the fruit in to line and their voluminous sizes protected the large berry bunches from the hot Summer heat. Hand harvesting occurred in mid March after a prolonged ripening period from veraison. The arriving fruit was exquisite with deep flavours and bountiful volumes. A rare combination of great yield and also exceptional quality. The 2024 growing season suited Grenache and the quality is evident in the collection of delicious 2024 wines.
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
24,000 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
