Yalumba Tri-Centenary Ancestor Vines Barossa Grenache 2023

This may not have been the first wine to reveal the glories of Barossa Grenache, if treated with the respect it deserves, but it was certainly one of the early examples and always impresses. This wine spent an extraordinary 333 days on skins as a post-ferment maceration. The fruit comes from just 820 old bush vines which were planted back in 1889. Just 4,839 bottles made. A very pale crimson hue here, but one which is gleaming. The nose is all strawberries, cherries, dried herbs and truffles, with hints of smoked meats. The wine is bright, fresh, exhibiting vibrant acidity, a silky texture with satiny tannins and a lingering finish. This is a juicy style of Grenache, ideal for those who find the big reds of the Barossa a bit much for them (no, I don’t understand that either). A fifteen year proposition, though already delicious.