Greenock Estate Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache 2018 

From venerable old vines, 100 years in age, in the Barossa, the grapes are destalked and placed ‘uncrushed’ in stainless steel open fermenters. Hand plunging and eventual basket pressing, before a further twenty days maceration on skins and then two years in a mix of French and American oak. Near opaque maroon, we have beguiling notes of chocolate and mocha, licorice, cloves, tobacco leaves and blackberries with a hint of vanilla and toast from the oak. Powerful and bold, this is a lovely rich and ripe style with a seductive texture. Fine yet slightly firm tannins and very good length too. Some may be put off by the 16.5% alcohol, but the richness and fruit more than match it. Richly flavoured, this will provide a great deal of pleasure over the next eight to twelve years.