From unirrigated organic and biodynamic vines, the fruit was destemmed, sorted and crushed into stone amphorae, where it spent four months on skins before a further three months of maturation. No pressings are used, allowing the fruit and vineyard to speak with clarity.
There's a denser fruit profile here than the High Sands and Ovitelli expressions with dark red berries, strawberries and pomegranate providing the core. Dried red petals add a neat floral note, while exotic spices ripple through the palate. Firm and tense initially, this carries the slightly bigger frame I often find in Clarendon Grenache, with ironstone-like minerality, dusty tannins and a fine black tea grip adding structure.
It's not as fragrant or pretty as its siblings, but that's hardly a criticism when the High Sands and Ovitelli set an almost unreachable bar. Viewed on its own terms, this is an excellent Grenache with plenty of character. Be sure to give it some time to open up and settle into its stride.
95/100
