Tasting notes from the winery for Yangarra Old Vine Grenache 2016 375mL

Produced exclusively from our Estate bush vines planted in 1946 high on our Estate’s deep sandy soils. Our Old Vine Grenache is complex, perfumed and elegant with a trademark tannin structure

"One of the more perfumed vintages, the Old Vine Grenache has pretty floral aromas and briary bright red fruits. The palate shows lots of bright cherry fruit, and the vineyard's typical fine line of sandy mineral tannins and acidity." - Peter Fraser, Winemaker

VINTAGE The 2016 growing season was marked by a very dry spring it intially seemed as if we were headed for a very early and compressed season. Summer came along, bringing with it some mild rains which slowed down the sugar ripening of the vines. This helped to give brightness and fleshiness to the wines of this vintage.

All of our Grenache grapes are hand-picked. As much as we pick on sugar/ acid balance, and importantly physiological characters, we also consider the biodynamic calendar where possible, with fruit days and flower days being the most desirable, and a root day avoided. 

VINEYARD The vineyard is certified Biodynamic with Australian Certified Organic. We have quite a practical approach, with our philosophy focused around healthy and alive soil, which involves no use of synthetic herbicides or fungicides, use of compost and biodynamic preparations, use of sheep in winter to graze under vine, and minimal mechanical soil disruption. 

WINEMAKING The fruit for this wine was sourced from blocks 23, 24, 25 and 29. These are dry-farmed bush vines that were planted in 1946, in our ancient sands that overlie the North Maslin geology. The grapes were hand-picked, destemmed and mechanically sorted. 50% whole berries. The berries were then tipped in to open fermenters, cold-soaked for 5-6 days and underwent wild yeast fermentation. No pressings were used. The wine in barrel was kept on lees in older French oak for 10 months. Not fined. Certified Organic/Biodynamic.

Technical Details:
Alcohol: 14.5%
pH: 3.40
TA: 5.3 g/L
Variety: 100% Grenache
Region: Blewitt Springs, McLarenVale, SA 
Vegan Friendy
Certified Biodynamic
Certified Organic

(SKU: YG_GRE_16_375ml)