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2023 Sandalwood Grenache Gris Piquepoul

Our Sandalwood vineyard is planted to grenache gris and piquepoul on a rocky slope in the foothills of McLaren Flat. These varieties are picked together and co-fermented to create a rich and textured wine with brightness and lift.

Grenache Gris (50%) and Piquepoul (45%) with inclusion of 5% Clairette this year.

"50/45/5% grenache gris/piquepoul/clairette from the Sandalwood vineyard, a later ripening site in the McLaren Flat foothills. Pressed to concrete for co-fermentation, then racked off heavy lees and returned for nine months élevage. Such an exuberantly expressive nose at pitch-perfect ripeness, with rosy skinned apples, lemon balm, raw quince, orange peel and tart pomelo. Tension defines the palate, with vigorous natural acidity and a moreish netting of pithiness combined with a gravelly minerality to deliver this dry, sapid and deeply layered. Stunning! 95 points"
Marcus Ellis, James Halliday's Wine Companion

"Another delicious Mediterranean expression from this fine site. Scents of herbal tea, bitter almonds, anise, spiced quince and preserved lemons. A medium-bodied palate, reliant on well-placed phenolics for poise. There’s a gentle wave of saline freshness and a savory, bitter finale. Very good drinking. 93 points"
Ned Goodwin MW, JamesSuckling.com

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95 points - Wine Companion

Wine Specs

Vintage

2023

Acid

6.3 g/L

3.11

Residual Sugar

0.2 g/L

Wine Profile

Tasting Notes

The nose is spritely and fresh showing fresh lemon, cypress and white nectarine. The palate is fine and long with fresh acidity providing drive and texture, flavours of citrus blossom, jasmine flower and wet stone leaving the palate craving seafood, natural oysters especially!

Vineyard Notes

2021 will be sure to be remembered as one of the great vintages in McLaren Vale. The vintage started off well with slightly above average rainfall through the winter and spring of 2020. Once the growing season commenced, we had healthy vines, and mild conditions through spring and summer. Vintage kicked off in mid-February and a well-spaced vintage saw the last fruit picked in mid-April. We had average yields across most white varieties with the resulting wines showing great clarity of aromatics. There is a beautiful acid-driven restraint in chenin and piquepoul; fiano is lively and showing the full array of fruit and spice aromatics. In shiraz, fantastic fruit condition and even ripening made life easy in the winery where we could watch each block express its identity - bright fruit and juicy flavours, with ripe, full tannin structures and impressive length of flavour. Sangiovese, nero and negroamaro very strong with vibrant primary fruit and lifted aromatics.

Winemaker Notes

We planted Australia’s first piquepoul vineyard in 2010 after falling in love with this delightful southern French variety. It's the last variety that we pick and bring into the winery, and is well suited to our McLaren Vale climate. The simple stainless steel fermentation highlights the wine's delicate texture.

Food Pairing Notes

Best served with freshly shucked oysters - the ultimate companion to complement Piquepoul’s lively acidity. Or try some lightly grilled fresh caught squid with a squeeze of citrus.

Other Notes

Piquepoul has long been a favourite of the Lloyd Family and was selected as having potential as a new variety for McLaren Vale. We imported the cuttings in 2009 from a nursery in southern France and some years later had our first release in 2015. The variety has proven itself to be well suited to our Mediterranean climate and has found a new home in the Vale. Its fresh acidity and lively texture make it a great accompaniment for seafood, particularly oysters and other shellfish.