Aphelion Wait Grenache 2022

There is a good balance of red fruit and citrus lift. Blood orange, ruby red grapefruit add a splash of acidity and lovely bitterness to the sweeter stewed rhubarb, raspberries and wild cherries notes. There is a subtle earthiness, some botanicals – like a vermouth character – tobacco leaf, lots of good crunch, super vibrant, with crisp red berries and fine sandy tannins. The palate goes from sweet to savoury, there are herbs like thyme, some lavender, and a good line of acid that keeps me coming back for more.

Young Gun of Wine ∙ 24th May 2024

Arresting for its dashing red fruits and proud pinch of baking spices. There’s a long mid palate before – boom – a powder keg of black tannins explode on the finish. A feisty, prickly wine that’s slightly agitated and edgy – which makes it all the more interesting. Points: 95/100

Decanter ∙ 18th Mar 2024

Wow. This is sensational. Saturated red fruit frames the experience given by this 2022 Wait Single Site Grenache from Blewitt Springs. Succulent. I want to repeat the word, but I won't. It has notes of raspberries, redcurrants, pomegranates and red licorice. The tannins are meaty/bloody and savory but oh so fi ne, and they balance the pure red fruit so nicely. What an exciting wine—it's a wine I can appreciate and write about and observe, but ultimately, it's a wine I want to drink. Ripper. Highly/warmly/fervently recommended. Points: 97/100

Robert Parker Wine Advocate ∙ 20th Jul 2023

Medium-depth red-purple colour; aromas of freshly turned earth, dried leaf litter and terra cotta. Dry, woody spices too. The wine is medium-full bodied and very drying on the palate with liberal tannins which are ripe and round and at the same time drying. An interesting contast with the Hickinbotham wine. Points: 96/100

The Real Review ∙ 19th Jul 2023

The belly dancer of the range. Exotic and frisky and gorgeous. This has a balletic feel to it. A thoroughbred, suggestive of Indian spices and carnal corners. Clove, bergamot, kirsch, cinnamon spice and a waft of optimism manifest in the most long-limbed reach of tannic bristle and maritime freshness that it draws a tear. Drink or hold. Screw cap. Points: 95/100

Halliday Wine Companion ∙ 21st Jun 2023

“Sourced from the Top Bush block on the Wait vineyard in the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale. Planted in the mid 1940’s.” Gets 100% whole bunch. Always good to taste these single vineyard expressions of McLaren Vale Grenache side by side. Well, this is pretty exotic, with loads of spice, rosy perfume and Earl Grey tea, ripe cherry and raspberry. It’s firm and tannic, lots of dust and gravel in feel, crisp cranberry acidity though rich red fruit, ginger biscuits, and lavish pumice stone tannin on a finish of excellent length. Serious and structured, and really very impressive. Points: 95/100

The Wine Front ∙ 29th May 2023

The belly dancer of the range. Exotic and frisky and gorgeous. So balletic of feel. This is a thoroughbred, suggestive of Indian spices and carnal corners. Clove, bergamot, kirsch, cinnamon spice and a waft of optimism, manifest in the most long-limbed reach of tannic bristle and maritime freshness that it brings a tear. Points: 95/100

Halliday Wine Companion ∙ 3rd Apr 2023