Such an awesome wine. Voted Wine of The Year in the 2023 James Halliday Wine Companion, one of, if not the most respected and influential Australian wine guides.
"You could have blown us over with a feather. The same grape variety, from the same producer, has somehow managed to win our Wine of the Year for the second time in the space of only a few years. We taste over 8000 wines each year. When we sit down the judge the Awards, we have no idea what the wines are, from start to finish.
The chances therefore of a Grenache from the same estate in McLaren Vale making it through all the various stages and discussions to come out on top, twice; well, they’re somewhere between Buckley’s and none. And yet Yangarra Estate has done just that. Its High Sansds Greache 2016 took out the Wine of the Year 2020; this year its Old Vine Grenache 2021 has achieved the same feat. On top of that, the voting in favour of this year’s winner was emphatic.
"Ex 1946 Blewitt Springs bush vines planted in a deep sandy dune that Yangarra call The Beach; dry-grown, bunch-sorted, wild yeast, open fermented and basket pressed. Bright clear though deep crimson hue; scented/perfumed, and I'm gone for all money without even tasting it. And I haven't fooled myself. Except why on earth is is only $45? Its red fruit sundae glistens with dew drops on a spider's web, yet also has a savoury echo towards the finish. – James Halliday" 99 pts
