Yangarra High Sands Grenache 2023

There’s tension to this wine, red and blue berried fruits, spice notes, chalk, a general lightness, a general insistence. The floral characters have that slightly – attractive – decayed aspect, brightened as they are by notes of musk-sticks-dipped-quickly-into the pool of red cherry. There’s a general high drinkability to this wine, especially when you first open it, but as it breathes it tightens, impressively. Given that this wine sits on the lighter or more elegant side of the ledger this comment might sound strange, but: there’s an impression of saturation to this wine, as in, the red berried fruit flavours feel saturated in flowers, sweet spices and sweet woods. It’s a very beautiful wine. Points: 95/100

The Wine Front ∙ 15th May 2025

This year, Pete Fraser will launch the High Sands, Ovitelli and Hickinbotham together, giving a better chance to view the connectivity. Well, there is certainly a theme in the '23s. A degree of alcohol less, lower colour and a commanding, yet incredibly fine, structural framework. This is a very different High Sands, a reflection of the cool year, but also an evolving direction, leaning into elegance, soaring fragrance and savoury tension. Red cherry, tart raspberry, intensely floral, swirling with North African spices, musk and orange peel. The palate is coiled at this stage, but the fruit has flex and will bloom with time in bottle, radiating out from the core of mineral-feeling tannin and skein of vigorous acidity. This is truly magnificent now, but the future is one of dazzling possibility. Points: 98/100

Halliday Wine Companion ∙ 9th May 2025

The 2023 Grenache High Sands is a more restrained edition that delivers refined and crystalline aromas of raspberry and watermelon dusted with star anise. It starts a little slowly but then builds savory, stony minerality with chewy textures yet still with a fine, ethereal core of flavor delivered over an extended finish. The 2023 is a sleeper that will be best over the medium term. Points: 94/100

Vinous ∙ 23rd Apr 2025