Our 2021 Smart Vineyard Clarendon Grenache won the Grenache Trophy at the 2023 National Wine Show in Canberra.

The show, a highlight on the Australian wine industry calendar since it began in 1975, is unique in being invitation only. To be invited, your wines must have won a gold or silver medal at one of 32 qualifying shows, so the winners are regarded as being ‘the best of the best’.
 

PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO LIMITED VOLUMES THIS WINE WILL BE LIMITED TO 6 BOTTLES MAXIMUM PER CUSTOMER.
DISCOUNTS WILL NOT APPLY TO THIS WINE.

TASTING NOTE

A layered and floral nose of fresh lavender, Thai basil, blood orange and red cherry. The palate has a beautiful structure balanced with a bright pomegranate like acidity, pink lady apple skin, Chinese five spice and a lingering savoury finish.

VINTAGE

We experienced an almost textbook growing season over 2020/2021 with rainfall back at long term averages and mild weather over flowering which allowed for good fruit set leading to above average yields.

Over the ripening period we experienced cooler than normal weather leading to an extended time on vine to develop some great varietal characters with some power in the fruit whilst maintaining bright natural acidities. The tannin structure in the reds this vintage is a highlight.

VINEYARD

A single vineyard Grenache sourced from Bernard Smart’s vineyard in Clarendon, McLaren Vale. The dry grown bush vines were planted in 1922 on loamy soils over red-brown clay and bedrock. Vineyard is situated at 230m above sea level on a South-East facing slope.

WINEMAKING

Fruit was hand harvested, de-stemmed and whole berry sorted into stainless steel open fermenters. The whole berry ferment spent 10 days on skins, during which time it was gently plunged to ensure optimum extraction whilst maintaining the delicate aromatics. Wine was basket pressed off of skins before maturation and malolactic fermentation on lees to retain fruit purity and freshness. Vegan friendly

FOOD PAIRING

Asian style braised beef

WINEMAKER

Skye Salter


REVIEWS

95+ Points
Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin

"Tasted alongside the Trott Vineyard Grenache (Blewitt Springs), the 2021 Smart Vineyard Grenache Clarendon is equally exciting and delicious for very different reasons. I mentioned the respect that producers have for Sue Trott; this is equal to the affection and respect they have for Bernard Smart and his son, who tend to this bush-vine vineyard in Clarendon. Here, the fruit is a very different profile; the soils are responsible for a more concentrated, bloodier, more velvety style. Texturally seductive, spicy and moving to mellifluous, it has a core of fresh blood, raspberry, black tea, red liquorice and pink peppercorn. Gorgeous. Perfumed. Floral. Substance."

94+ Points
The Wine Front, Gary Walsh

"Dry grown bush vines planted in 1922. Pure, bright expression of Grenache. Cherry, dried cranberry, pepper and aromatic herbs. Medium-bodied, a little sappy, fresh red fruits, tight pumice stone tannin, spice and sage, a crisp and stony finish of excellent length. A little nervy, but refreshing and full of energy. A few years more in bottle will see it blossom. Excellent."

92 pts
Halliday Wine Companion, Ned Goodwin

“Among the very oldest and certainly the coolest vineyard in the Vale. The near-vertiginous bush vines on loamy, sandy ironstone are a joy to behold. Lilac and white pepper perfume. Kirsch, rosemary and thyme. The mid palate needs just a bit more stuffing. The fruit, perhaps, half a degree of ripeness.”