Tasting Notes for Kalleske Old Vine Grenache 2008 from the Winery

Old Vine Grenache 2008 is dark crimson in colour. It has a powerful nose displaying aromas of Turkish delight, exotic spices, clove, black fruits, rose petal, licorice and a touch of dark chocolate mint. The palate is solid and full-bodied with plenty of fleshy dark fruit flavours. Light dusty tannins add good structure and mouthfeel. Layers of flavor and texture make a complex wine that is very long to finish. This distinguished Grenache drinks well now but is ideally suited for serious cellaring. 

The Old Vine Grenache is produced in South Australia's Barossa Valley, by the Kalleske family who have been farming and growing grapes since the 1800s. It is a genuine estate wine - grown, vintaged and matured on the Kalleske estate at Greenock. 

Growing Season 

2008 was an extremely hot and dry vintage. There were superb ripening conditions until March when the Barossa experienced its biggest heat-wave of all time with 15 days in a row over 35 degrees. Fortunately, Grenache is a variety that thrives in the heat so was not overtly affected. Overall 2008 is a very good vintage, with average yields and great quality. 

Vineyard

Old Vine Grenache is made from a single vineyard planted in 1935 as bush vines on the Kalleske farm. The vineyard soil is shallow sand with light clay subsoil and the grapes are entirely dry-grown ensuring intensely flavoured fruit. 

Winemaking

Following hand-picking on the 24th March, grapes were destemmed into an open-top fermenter. The must was warmly fermented using native yeast, and ferment temperatures reached up to 32 degrees celsius. Gentle hand pumpovers were carried out twice a day for flavour and colour extraction. After fermentation on skins for sixteen days the must was traditionally pressed and then filled to barrel. The wine was matured in American and French oak hogsheads for two years prior to bottling. An intense, rich and robust Barossa Grenache. 

(SKU: KA_OVG_08)