Woodvale Soul Garden GSM 2021

This blend pays tribute to the Southern Rhone, Grenache dominant (90%) with 5% each of Shiraz and Mataro (always nice to see a winery use the name ‘Mataro’ rather than the somm-trendy Mourvèdre). The Grenache is from a block planted by Leasingham in 1955; the Shiraz from a twenty-year-old dry grown vineyard in Watervale; the Mataro from the Penwortham sub-region. The aim from the team was to make a wine in the ‘Joven’ style – namely, a light and fresh Rioja style, and the discrete parcels were vinified individually before blending. The Grenache spent three months in older French hogsheads while the other two parcels only saw stainless steel. Deep maroon in colour, this is full of fruit and flavour. Chocolate, dry herbs, mulberries, cloves and cherries with very fine tannins – this is delicious stuff and the finish lingers nicely with good intensity. Enjoy it now but, if you wanted, it could cellar for up to another 4 to 8 years.