Hentley Farm The Old Legend Grenache 2019
- $69
Share
A jewel in the glass, a bright and enticingly gorgeous ruby, with a nose resplendent of the red berried fruits of Barossa Valley grenache: redcurrants, raspberries and cranberries, and a little dusty stalkiness with exotic spice and hints of orange peel. On the palate there is much to love: the fruit is plush and ripe, has power in spades but is in balance and so silky. More red berries with milk chocolate richness, and tannins like closing the door on a velvet armoire. Lovely true grenache. Eat with duck confit and cherry compote, if you dare.
Review by Melissa Moore
Matt Dunne
93 Points
Grenache with personality! With some extended maceration for 45 days and 35% whole bunch, this wine has solid framework, approachable now but built for the long-haul. The fruit is from three parcels of individually treated grenache. Super floral with dried rose petals and lavender. Palate is medium weight with milk chocolate, wild plum, kirsh and some spicy oak toastiness. Terrific wine with a bright future!
Angus Hughson
94 Points
Drink 2024 – 2032
Grenache can start out a little shy when young and this is a good case in point. On Day 1 it was very shy – with its brooding black cherry, earth and spicy fruits reserved and subtle. But slowly the bottled sunshine of Barossa Grenache started to emerge with generous red cherry and baked earth fruits in a rich and deeply flavoured style. There is also tannins and plenty of them making this a riper style of Grenache but one that also has the composure to improve over time. Give it five years before matching with flame-grilled ribeye.
Melissa began her hospitality career in London working for the Rolling Stones, returning to Australia at the dawn of the wine bar explosion in Melbourne to develop a deep love of wine, restaurants, beaches and much warmer weather. She has judged at several national and local wine shows including The Royal Sydney Show, the NSW Wine Awards and The Alternative Varieties Wine Show, and contributed to the Sydney Morning Herald with wine selection articles. Melissa was selected to be a scholar of the Len Evans’ Tutorial and was dux of the 2019 New Zealand Family of Twelve Tutorial. She was previously Head Sommelier at Merivale and is now Beverage and Operations Manager for the Love Tilly Group. She lives in Sydney with her family.
