Yelland & Papps Barossa Valley Old Vine Grenache 2022

We now talk of a ‘modern’ style of grenache, so as to redefine and separate the grape from its old self. This old vine grenache falls into that new category neatly. The modern style essentially brings the fruit forward and pushes back on the oak. Here, the fruit off old vines is allowed to sing: cherry, roasted plum, pepper, cherry nougat, raspberry bon bon and liquorice aromas. The grape’s natural confection notes are given a voice – just a little – working with red berried and dark fruits while a lively, persistent spiciness ensues. This spice-fuelled red wine just goes and goes led by juniper, clove, rosemary and red liquorice, running long through to the finish with a touch of savouriness for added interest.

Jeni Port

Wine critic at Winepilot

Jeni Port is one of Australia’s top wine communicators. Based in Melbourne, Jeni created the first wine column in the (then) Sun News-Pictorial before moving over to The Age and becoming that paper’s longest-serving wine writer. Over the years she has written for most Australian wine magazines and these days calls WinePilot home. She is also a Tasting Panel member on the Halliday Wine Companion. She was named Wine Communicator of the Year and Legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2014 and in 2018 Legend of the Vine. She is a founding board member of Australian Women In Wine and is the co-deputy chair of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards and China’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

Wine writer and critic