DAN'S WINE BLOG- THIS WEEK'S WINE REVIEW

THIS WEEK’S WINE REVIEW:

?This week I am talking about a Grenache – something I rarely do as there are literally hundreds of wineries producing Grenache these days and alas, a growing number of them are trying to make a “lighter style, lower alcohol Grenache” and end up making thin green, pissy Grenache. Grenache grapes need to be fully ripe to impart the flavours that make it so divine and gluggable. This of course means higher in alcohol, which is against “trends” these days.

?Let me say that I don’t give a rats-arse as to how much alcohol is in a wine, just that the wine be flavoursome and well balanced. I have drooled over a 6% German Riesling from Dr Ernst Loosen and also over an 18.0% (natural) alcohol, Parola’s Reserve Durif from Warrabilla. I am interested in the depth, flavour and balance of a wine not in its alcohol content. I don’t drink and drive so I do not need to worry as to whether I should drink 0.7832456 of a glass less wine because it is higher in alcohol.

?As I climb down from my hobby horse I will say to winemakers: If you want to make a light-style, low alcohol wine, don’t make a Grenache – there are plenty of red varieties that fit those parameters. So, if you are making a Grenache, please, please make sure the grapes are ripe before you pick it.

?Peter Fraser at Yangarra in McLaren Vale sure does this. The Yangarra Estate VINEYARD Ovitelli Grenache 2021 (like its predecessors) is a magnificent, ubber classy expression of this superb variety.

?Every step of the way it receives “Rolls Royce” TLC, from being organic and biodynamical grown (Certified) from old, old vines planted in 1946, through to being fermented in ceramic eggs slowly over 13 months – left on skins for around 130 days and the final wine has not been pressed, nor has it had any oak treatment.?This is probably the closest Australian thing to the original Georgian thousands of years old Qvevri winemaking system/tradition. This is what Natural Winemaking really is all about.

?Okay, so the wine is light, bright and vibrant in colour. The bouquet is juicy, spicy, and peppery with a splash of ripe red berries. The palate is rich, round, tasty with gorgeous red berries and raspberry flavours, with just a smackeral of citrus peel and liquorice. The texture and depth is magnificent leading to that ever so long and lingering finish – Divine! What a cracking wine!!

?Check it out along with its brace of superb siblings at the link below.

?Winery Link:?www.yangarra.com