Grenache. Ganarche. Cannonau. Garnatxa. Grenache Noir. Alicante.
Whatever you call it, today istheday to celebrate it.
Grenache has its roots (pun intended) tied to northern Spain, in the region of Aragon. For some time, it was referred to as Tinto Aragonés; the Spanish term for red wine of the Aragon region.
And surely you know Grenache is grown all over the world? No? Well, there’s the winning answer for your next quiz night. Yes, there are excellent examples of Grenache from Spain as both still red wines and Rosé. Moving to France, and what do you think world-famous Chateauneuf du Pape from Rhône is made of? Well, Grenache of course. Next up, California and there is a pocket in Washington that has been carefully cultivated from a prestigious vineyard in the Rhône. And naturally saving the best for last- Australia and most specifically South Australia. All these regions have something in common- they are all cooler regions of their respective countries.
Despite originating in Spain, France now has the largest area at around 250,000 acres in Rhône, followed by Spain (~170,000 acres), Italy (~55,300 acres), the United State (~10,000 acres) andAustralia not far behind (~8,000 acres).
While it is lesscommon to see Grenache as a single varietal wine in Australia (Grenache is the ‘G’ in GSM), it sits smack in the middle of Pinot Noir and Shiraz or Syrah on a scale of intensity (see the second pic above). Megan, our all-round superstar and who our Grenache is named after aptly said “more pizzaz that Pinot Noir!". great with a pizza on a Friday night (or any night really) or something with a little spice- YUM!
So, without further ado, we couldn’t be more excited to release our2020 MeganJane Grenache on its day.
As quoted byBarossa Wine “Barossa’s 2020 wines will again be sought out early by fans and collectors, with yields tracking below the 10-year average due to temperamental spring weather, and a hot, dry summer.”
Our whole region’s reduced yield is partly due to some interrupted flowering in spring, thanks to some very cold nights and strong winds, followed by extremely hot, dry summer conditions. As in previous years, we focused our attentions on maintaining soil moisture and irrigating before these heatwaves and we fared alright through the hot conditions.
In some areas of Eden Valley, vineyards were down 70-80% (mainly due to lack of water) and in a few cases some vineyards were not even picked at all.
Despite being down 45% on our own normal production levels, our quality is brilliant.
Our 2020 Megan Jane Grenache gave us the opportunity to explore the dynamics of the Eden Valley region once more, by capturing deeper red tones in the glass reflective of the intense grape skin colours.
A medium bodied style, it projects raspberry, mulberry, and dark fruit notes appearing in the mid palate with a dash of classic bon bon confectionery cinnamon that Grenache is well known for.
Structured acidity and grippy tannins keep the basket of wild fruits well in check.
We sell out every year- our first vintage in 2017 sold out in 8 months... our 2018 vintage sold out in 5 months and given the recent accolades for both 2019 and 2020 (see below) we don’t anticipate this vintage to last either.
2020 Megan Jane Grenache |
Double Gold Medal (96 points) | 2022 Melbourne International Wine Competition
2019 Megan Jane Grenache | sold out
94 Points | Sam Kim, Wine Orbit | "It's splendidly ripe and inviting on the nose showing dark plum, cured meat, dried herb and a hint of leather notes, followed by a supple palate displaying succulent fruit flavours with smooth rounded mouthfeel. Silky and flavoursome with an attractive spicy finish. At its best: now to 2027." April 2022
Gold Medal | 2021 Melbourne International Wine Competition
93 Points | Winepilot - Ken Gargett | "A Grenache which has attracted positive attention in various wine shows, this is named after a member of their team. It is the third release of Grenache for the winery, all from a single vineyard in the Eden Valley, and crafted by winemaker Joanne Irvine (daughter of winemaking royalty, James Irvine). The yields with this vintage were lower than average, resulting in wines of serious concentration. Crimson/purple in colour, this was my favourite of the releases, a really well made, delicious Grenache. Nose of raspberries, bergamot, dry herbs, red cherries and florals. Balanced, with excellent focus and serious length through to very fine tannins, all backed by underlying acidity. A delicious, juicy example of Grenache that drinks beautifully now and should age well for another 6-8 years. Their suggestion is that if the day warrants it, 30 minutes in the fridge will assist, is not out of place. Drink to 2029."
Order a little or a lot now and remember to sign into your account members to receive extra special pricing.
efolly.com, Essential Guide to Grenache Wine.https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/grenache-wine/
