Yalumba The Tri-Centenary Grenache Ancestor Vines 2022
- 95
- $70
- Drink by: 2024-2036
Share
One of this country’s most famous and finest Grenache continues its stellar form with this latest release. Stonkingly good. The fruit comes from less than a hectare of bush vines, planted back in 1889 – just 820 vines, if one wants to be specific. The wine then spends the best part of a year, post-ferment, on skins. Pale crimson, there is that typical Grenache/Yalumba strawberries and cream character. Florals, cherries, milk chocolate, spices and mixed red fruits, this is softly and seductively textured, finely balanced, seamless, with fine tannins and a lingering finish. The palate sees more spicy notes emerge and even a flick of white pepper. There are already early signs of the complexity to come although the wine has eight to twelve years ahead of it, at least. Compare the price of this to that of wines like Rayas and Bonneau and it quickly becomes obvious that in world terms, they are almost giving this away. Okay, not quite but it is sensational buying for a rare wine of world class quality.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
