From the winery:
During the vine pull scheme of the early 1980’s d’Arry Osborn refused to touch his old Grenache vineyards. When his son Chester started in the business as Chief Winemaker in 1984 he set about acquiring more old vine Grenache grapes and vineyards at a time when it was considered un-fashionable. Today d’Arenberg is the keeper of nearly one third of McLaren Vale’s old bush vine Grenache and has earned the title of ‘Custodian’ of the variety.The nose is full of berries with clear notes raspberry and blueberry with cherry and plum adding to the mix. With a few swirls the wine opens further to reveal earth and spice notes.
Vibrant and fresh red fruits form a beautiful, luscious fruit core with white pepper and cinnamon spices emerging on the back palate. There is an earthy feel to the wine with grippy, mineral fruit tannins providing a long finish.
The vintage is clearly reflected in the wine with ripe fruit characters well balanced with earth notes and layered secondary characters. The wine has the poise and structure to cellar well over the next decade.