We have three small bush vine vineyards on the Coriole estate with majority of our estate grown grenache going to the Grenache MourveĢdre Shiraz blend, Dancing Fig.
We like to reserve the best 2-3 barrels that display quintessential McLaren Vale grenache characters for this single bottling.
The soils naturally produce a savoury wine, so we use 20% whole bunch and soft extraction during fermentation to get more floral aromatics and prettiness.
"Duncan Lloyd has been tweaking the making across the family range over time, recently reducing oak in some cuvées in favour of concrete. The time in oak, always old, has dropped from 10 months last vintage to three here, with six months prior in concrete, after open fermentation with 10% whole bunches. This is so young, but it’s already singing, with redcurrant, griotte, pomegranate, sultry red florals, a little musk, orange peel and dusty peppery spice. The drive of acidity and ultra-fine sandy tannins lengthen the savoury drive, refining and corseting the vibrant fruit, eschewing heft but retaining depth. A lovely expression. 95 points"
Marcus Ellis, James Halliday's Wine Companion
"Raspberry, strawberry, a peppery spice top note, nutmeg, bergamot tea, with some rose perfume. It’s medium-bodied, juicy and succulent, kind of savoury and nutty, light pumice stone tannin, tea and herbs, with a delightful dusty peppery finish of excellent length. It’s bright but savoury, and gee, it has some character too. Excellent. 94 points"
Gary Walsh, Winefront