Yangarra Old Vine Grenache 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Perfumed, structured & long

This is benchmark Blewitt Springs Grenache from un-irrigated bush vines planted in 1946 — fragrant, detailed and carried by exceptional tannins. The nose is all rose petal and wild strawberry, red cherry and orange rind, with a savoury lift of dried herbs. The palate has real energy and drive: medium- to full-bodied without heaviness, vibrant in acidity, and finished with those polished tannins that keep everything long, dry and quietly authoritative.

Highlights

• Certified biodynamic and organic; vegan-suitable
• 96 points – James Halliday (The Weekend Australian)
• 92 points – Stuart Knox (The Real Review)
• From un-irrigated bush vines planted in 1946 on deep sandy “Beach” soils
• Wild ferment; very gentle pump-overs; some extended maceration parcels (up to ~2.5 months) to polish tannins
• Matured in old foudre and puncheons, plus ceramic egg and amphora; bottled February 2025
• Dry style (≈ 2 g/L residual sugar) | 14% ABV

Tasting Notes

Perfume first: rose petal, wild strawberry and red cherry, with orange rind and a savoury dried-herb nuance. The palate has a bright red-fruit core and a mineral, sandy feel to the tannins — firm but finely worked. It’s medium- to full-bodied without heaviness, finishing long, dry and savoury, with a distinct sense of line and place.

Winemaking

Hand-picked and selectively sorted, with a portion of whole berries retained for lift and finesse. Wild fermentation and a very gentle pump-over regime protect perfume and tannin quality, while some parcels see extended maceration to polish structure. Matured in a mix of older foudre and puncheons alongside ceramic egg and amphora, then assembled and bottled in February 2025.

Vineyard & Vintage

Fruit is sourced exclusively from un-irrigated bush vines planted in 1946 on a deep sandy dune known as “The Beach” — white sands over red/orange clay, part of the ancient North Maslin Sands formation. The 2024 season delivered generous flavour held in check by freshness and drive, resulting in a wine that’s both perfumed and tightly structured.

Why We Love It

Because it captures why old-vine Grenache has become one of Australia’s most exciting red expressions: perfume, detail and structure without the weight. It’s generous but never clumsy, with tannins that feel like fine sandpaper rather than grip. This is the bottle you open when you want to impress a Grenache lover — and convert a Pinot drinker.

Food Pairing

Beautiful with lamb (roast or grilled), charred vegetables, mushroom dishes, and slow-cooked ragù. The perfume loves thyme, rosemary and orange zest; the tannin line suits grilled meats just as well.

Try matching this wine with →

• Slow-cooked lamb shoulder — Find a Recipe
• Eggplant & tomato bake — Find a Recipe
• Mushroom ragù — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

The “proper bottle” for a dinner you actually planned. Decant if you have time, or simply pour and let it open over the meal — it gets more floral and savoury as it breathes. It’s also brilliant with a slight chill on warmer nights, sharpening the red-fruit detail and the line of tannin.

Cellaring

Drinks beautifully now for perfume and energy, and will reward 6–10 years in a cool cellar. With age, expect more savoury earth, dried flowers and spice, with the tannins knitting into an even silkier, longer finish.

Producer

Yangarra is a single-vineyard estate in Blewitt Springs at the northern edge of McLaren Vale, celebrated for world-class biodynamic farming and Rhône-variety focus. The elevation, Mediterranean climate and ancient North Maslin Sands soils are especially well suited to Grenache, delivering wines with fragrance, fine structure and a clear sense of place. In a major benchmark moment, the 2021 vintage of Yangarra Old Vine Grenache was named Halliday Wine Companion Wine of the Year (2024 awards) — a nod to just how far this vineyard and variety can go.

Related Wines To Try →

• From the same producer, vibrant and earlier-drinking — Yangarra Circle Grenache 2024
• Another benchmark Grenache from old vines — Kalleske Old Vine Grenache 2023
• From Yangarra, textural Rhône white depth — Yangarra Roussanne 2022

FAQ

Why do old vines matter?

Old vines tend to produce smaller yields and naturally balanced fruit, often with more perfume and savoury complexity. In Grenache especially, old bush vines can bring fine tannin structure and length — the “line” you feel through the finish — rather than simple sweetness.

Should I decant this wine?

If you can, yes. A short decant (30–60 minutes) lifts the floral notes and helps the tannins feel even more polished. If you don’t decant, just pour and let it evolve in the glass — it’s built to open beautifully over a meal.

What temperature should I serve it at?

Cooler than you’d think. Aim for around 16–18°C. On warmer nights, a 10–15 minute fridge chill makes the fruit feel brighter and the tannins even more refined.

Is it more “perfumed” or more “powerful”?

Perfumed first, structured second. It’s medium- to full-bodied, but the emphasis is fragrance, line and length rather than weight or obvious sweetness.

What should I pair it with?

Lamb (roast or grilled), mushroom dishes, charred vegetables, slow-cooked ragù, and Mediterranean herbs. The wine’s floral lift also works beautifully with orange zest, rosemary and thyme.

How long can I cellar it?

It’s excellent now, but it’s built to cellar. Expect 6–10 years comfortably in a cool cellar, with the perfume moving toward dried flowers, spice and savoury earth as it ages.

What’s the tannin style like?

Exceptional and finely worked — present, but polished. You feel structure and length rather than grip or dryness, especially with food.

Who will love it most?

Grenache devotees, Pinot lovers who chase perfume and finesse, and anyone who appreciates structure without heaviness. It’s also a brilliant “special bottle” for lamb night.

(SKU: YG_GRE_CV)