2022 Smart Vineyard Grenache
($38.25 Wine Club price)
The 2022 Smart Grenache was sourced from the very old Smart Family Vineyard in Clarendon, an important district of McLaren Vale. This vineyard was first planted in 1922 exclusively to bush vine grenache. We love McLaren Vale Grenache, a great counter balance to the fruit we grow in the Barossa some 70kms North. The Smart Vineyard is a truly special Grenache block that we are lucky to get a bit of fruit each year. Thankyou Wayne!. Hand picked, the fruit was de-stemmed before being transferred to our small fermenters. Once dry, the wine was transferred into a seasoned French oak puncheon for maturation prior to being bottled in early 2023.
This wine carries tremendous balance, highly perfumed and aromatic, but with a savoury edge that differentiates from the fruit styles we see further north in the Barossa, medium bodied, a line of quite obvious natural acid, all the hallmarks of the Clarendon district in a wonderful vintage. Drink now or for 10 years or more
Technical Tasting Notes
2022 SMART VINEYARD GRENACHE
GROWING SEASON
The 2022 Mclaren Vale vintage like the Barossa further north will be remembered as a tremendous year, the second in a row after an equally impressive although different 2021 vintage. Both Vintages were cool, but 2022 was cooler and later, the coolest since 2002. Good spring rains meant that we entered the growing season with good soil moisture levels. A warm dry growing season followed, with balanced and healthy canopies producing an average crop of extremely high quality fruit.
A pigeon pair, perhaps the best two since 1990/1991 if not longer. The good news is that flavours and colours (in reds) and the vibrancy and lift in the whites are incredible. Overall quality is exceptional. Another extremely good South Australian vintage in the making.
TASTING NOTE
The 2022 Smart Grenache was sourced from the very old Smart Family Vineyard in Clarendon, McLaren Vale. This vineyard was first planted in 1922 exclusively to bush vine grenache. We love McLaren Vale Grenache, a great counter balance to the styles we grow in the Barossa some 70kms North. This wine carries tremendous balance, highly perfumed and aromatic, but with a savoury edge that differentiates from the fruit styles we see further north in the Barossa. Medium bodied with a fine line of acid that characterises Clarendon in a cool season. This wine is sure to cellar well and improve for many years.
SPECIFICATIONS
Region: McLaren Vale
Sub Region: Clarendon
Variety: Grenache
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 670 bottles
Cellaring: 10 years+
Winemaker: Andrew Seppelt
Download Technical Tasting Notes 2022 Vintage ➝
Download Technical Tasting Notes 2021 Vintage ➝
Download Technical Tasting Notes 2020 Vintage ➝
Reviews
2022 Smart Vineyard Grenache
Not Submitted for Review
2021 Smart Vineyard Grenache
2023 James Halliday Wine Companion (Dave Brookes)
93 Points - Bright red purple in the glass with aromas of blood plum, Asian spice, dark chocolate-dipped raspberries, licorice, earth and lighter hints of jasmine and cola. The spicy plume of plum fruit is propelled across the palate by bright, minerally acidity, tannins are compact and sandy and a vibrant, medium-length finish.
Steve Leszczynski (Qwinereviews.com)
94 Points - Brett Hayes is one of the biggest buyers of Grenache in the Barossa Valley. His thirst for the variety is insatiable. So much so, he has now made a foray into McLaren Vale sourcing fruit from the Smart Vineyard. Pinot lovers ought to head this way - it is a perfect match for duck.
This 2021 is the first commercial release of this wine and will be ready for purchase on 1 June 2022. From the well known Smart Vineyard in Clarendon, only 650 bottles were produced. A delicate and fine-boned Grenache, it found its true form with time in the glass. Raspberries leap into action with some cranberry fruit on its tail. Flashes of red plums and red apples slowly unfurl. There is a red apple crunch about the acidity too. Softly spiced with scents of twigs, red petals continue to diffuse as a seemingly endless finish takes hold. Very smart indeed.
Drink to five years+
Huon Hooke (therealreview.com)
88 Points - Medium to deep purple/red colour, youthful and bright. The aromas are blackberry pastille, sweet and simple, clean and bright. The palate is likewise straightforward and taut, tense and firm with plenty of grip and slightly sappy tannins.
2022-2033
2020 Smart Vineyard Grenache
Not Publicly Released
