A creamy and fine-tannined grenache with perfectly ripe strawberry and hints of tile. It’s medium-bodied. Fresh and fine. Lightly chewy. Orange peel. Refined and elegant. Terracotta. No wood. Excellent aging potential. Drink or hold. Points: 95/100
Pretty and almost skeletal, this is a joyous and dancy number. The fruit glides through unobstructed. Silk sheet material. Bring it! Fermented in 1800L amphorae, the organically and biodynamically farmed Clarendon vineyard is perched 225 metres above and was planted in 1962. 72% sat on skins for 156 days for those that love extra detail. Red and blue fruit highlights, super fine tannins, long and moreish - I just want more. Hints of burnt orange rise up late but the red fruits really gain some momentum with time in the glass. It's a wine that moves on the balls of its feet and manoeuvres every crevice with grace. A big yes, yes and yes from me. Points: 95/100
From old, unirrigated vines at Hickinbotham, in Clarendon.The only cuvée produced outside of Yangarra Estate. Destemmed, crushed and tipped into a ceramic egg where it remained on skins for 170 days. Gorgeous. Pinosity in spades. Noble bitterness. Lavender and white pepper. Pink grapefruit pulp and sapid, sour-cherry accents. Like the most glorious amaro with a slice of Sicilian orange, this plays a finessed card of consummate elegance, racy length, crunchy saline tannins and latent power. Brethren to Ovitelli in terms of shape, if not a bit looser and more flamboyant at the seams. A belly dancer in a souk of carnal desire. Scintillating, uber-aromatic grenache. Points: 95/100
A light red with great clarity and nose that exudes floral red cherry, potpourri and wild strawberry. The palate has energy and drive with flowing red cherry and a line of tannin that takes on baking herbs and is laced with bitter dark chocolate. The purity of fruit is impressive and the wine builds with texture; the finish combines primary fruits with savoury influence. A wine that is sure to cellar well. Points: 95/100
From old, unirrigated vines at Hickinbotham, in Clarendon.The only cuvée produced outside of Yangarra Estate. Destemmed, crushed and tipped into a ceramic egg where it remained on skins for 170 days. Gorgeous. Pinosity in spades. Noble bitterness. Lavender and white pepper. Pink grapefruit pulp and sapid, sour-cherry accents. Like the most glorious amaro with a slice of Sicilian orange, this plays a finessed card of consummate elegance, racy length, crunchy saline tannins and latent power. Brethren to Ovitelli in terms of shape, if not a bit looser and more flamboyant at the seams. A belly dancer in a souk of carnal desire. Scintillating, uber-aromatic grenache. Points: 95/100
Spicy, floral, raspberry, red cherry, a sweet clay-like earthiness, almond and flowering basil? Well, hello McLaren Vale Burgundy. Fresh raspberry, a little earthy and nutty, but succulent, and yet, all this firm brick dusty tannin pushing through, almost peppery in a way, a smattering of dried herb, some cranberry acidity on a long slightly warm finish, but gee energy is pulsating through this wine. It’s terrific. Points: 95/100
While the 2020 Ovitelli has this levity, purity and freshness above and beyond Hickinbotham, there’s no doubting the pedigree, tannin prowess and finesse of this wine. I prefer the drinkability and drive of Ovitelli, but I admire the Hickinbotham more, in a way. Richness, ripeness of fruit, lifted on trails of pomegranate juice and rose hip tea, grippy tannins go gummy and draw the wine long, it has a mouth-watering fresh finish at the lingering depths of the red fruit characters. Dried herbs, anise, fennel, brambles, some hazelnut and ashy clove for complexity. Serious stuff, very, very good. Points: 95/100
A significantly different style of Grenache – more robust and earthy than its Yangarra siblings, but also matured in large eggs. There’s a more open weave to the tannins that draws out the opulence of a rounded middle palate, promoting the luscious plum, cherry and rich earth savouriness, crowned by a Campari-like bite. Points: 93/100
Alluring notes of violets, licorice and chocolate-dipped raspberries lead into a ripe and cushioned core full of life. There's a pleasing texture to the wine, a gliding tannin with a fine chew. A warming alcohol glow appears on the finish. This is heady and vibrant with dimension. Points: 95/100
