Small Victories Old Vine Grenache 2021

Jules and Bec Ashmead are sourcing some seriously great fruit across South Australia and I’m seriously digging Aussie grenache at the moment. It’s a great ‘all-rounder’ with elegance and vibrancy standing strong in this example, even from a warmer region. Time on lees and touch of whole bunch (20%) add some extra dimension, depth and crunch on the palate. The frame is light to medium in weight with brooding aromas of blood plum, rhubarb and white pepper followed by succulence and brightness of fruit (red cherry in leaps and bounds), lick of garden spices plus well-integrated tannins with a savoury kick at the end. A wine that stands on its own with ease but also a wine you could put in the chiller for a bit before serving – drink it like this with fish tacos topped by jalapeno!

Matt Dunne

Wine critic and journalist at Joval Wine

Matt Dunne is one of Sydney’s finest sommeliers and communicators who is also the Group Wine Ambassador for the Joval Wine Group. He has created and managed wine lists for over 30 venues including ARIA Sydney, Opera Bar and Chiswick. In 2011 Matt won the Sydney Morning Herald’s 2011 ‘Good Food Guide Louis Roederer Sommelier of the Year’ and his team won the 2015 Wine List of the Year in the Good Food Guide for ARIA Sydney plus he was a Len Evans Scholar. Matt has tremendous knowledge of wine, beer and spirits, and has written his own wine blog for over 8 years.

International wine knowledge and tasting expertise