Varney Wines Grenache 2021

I tasted this not long after bottling and it seemed a little shy and bottle shocked, but on day 2 all was revealed and what is a smart but modern style of Australian Grenache, which could do with another year or two in bottle to really get in the groove.

Bright deep cherry in colour, this is a well pitched, middle of the road style showing both spicy whole bunch characters plus fleshy, rich fruits. Mulberry, new leather and liquorice showcase ripe old vine qualities from 70 year old vines. It fleshes out more on the palate to reveal crunchy red cherry, rolling tobacco and old wood pile flavour complexity. It’s dry and juicy too; stalky tannins giving backbone to energetic, powerful fruit before a long and quite firm finish. You can feel that this wine has been coaxed and meticulously cared for in the winery making Varney a winery well worth keeping an eye out for.