Clandestine Vineyards Grenache 2018
- 93
- $30
- Drink by: 2020 - 2027
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I have been looking at a lot of good Aussie Grenache of late and this one fits right in. Can you do better? Sure, but only if you throw out a truckload more money. Not sure anything beats it for value at just thirty bucks.
From the Blewitt Springs region of McLaren Vale, the vineyard was planted in 1923. Fruit was picked from bush vines, basket pressed with 10% whole bunches into large old French oak with 10% of pressings added back. 3,600 bottles produced.
A deep crimson colour, this offers notes of smoked meats, cherries, florals and warm earth. Soft but intense with good acidity, it is a wine that lingers and has a good future. An impressive Grenache and cracking value.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
