2016 Vanguardist ‘MVG’ Grenache Cult Wine

“Grapes sourced from 47 year old dry-grown bush vines at the high part of Blewitt Springs. No additions other than a little sulphur. Michael, the winemaker, has a very nice beard and he puts me in mind of a viking. 150 dozen produced. Raspberry, plenty of spice, a musk and rose perfume, and maybe some just wet earthiness in the background. Medium bodied, layers of flavour and spice – almost an Indian exotica here – thick and pleasantly chalky tannin, well settled acidity, and all that spice, earth and fresh raspberry closing out a very long finish. Personality plus. It tastes good, and just as importantly, it feels good. Almost Italianate.” – Gary Walsh, The Wine Front (95 Points)

Winemaking Notes:
The Grenache that makes up this wine comes from outstanding spot in McLaren Vale. A hidden gem of sorts, the high ‘Silver Sands’ vineyard in the Blewitt Springs was planted by Robert Rende and his father 47 years ago. He has nurtured these dry farmed bush vines with minimal intervention, and we are now implementing organic practices in the vineyard.

We use small (1T) fermenters to separate batches, and pick the vineyard two or three times to ensure a spectrum of flavours and natural acid balance. Various methods including maceration carbonique, partial destem and extended maceration of up to 9 months were used. Minimal physical extraction is implemented (no pumping and very minimal pipeage) and rather time with skins/stems sees the development of tannin, flavour and aroma with this wine.

All batches are kept separate in a mixture of barriques and puncheons, and blended just prior to bottling after about a year of elevage. No fining or filtration is used, and minimal SO2 of around 70PPM total is added at bottling.

150 dozen made.
Alcohol: 13.7%%
pH: 3.42
Total Acidity: 5.8g/L
Residual Sugar: <1g/L

Natural.