Description
Yangarra Estate, a biodynamic winery and vineyard in McLaren Vale, South Australia, specializes in southern Rhône varieties. First planted in 1946 (High Sands Grenache vines), the vineyard spans 170 hectares with 84 planted to vines led by grenache and shiraz. Nestled in Blewitt Springs and known for its ancient geology and wind-blown sands, Yangarra sources single estate grown fruit. Its unique terroir of rare geologies, altitude, sunshine, and cool breezes fosters ideal maritime conditions for grape cultivation. Yangarra boasts over 250, 95+ scores in the last decade, including top rankings by James.Suckling.com and Halliday Wine Companion, Yangarra’s Old Vine Grenache recently earned Wine of the Year.
“Venerable vines, fastidious viticulture and cutting edge winemaking kit. It’s a killer combination and the reason why Yangarra is producing some of the best wines in the Vale right now. “ Max Allen
About this wine from the winemaker: “Royal Oaks and King’s Wood were forests planted by monarchs to build elegant cathedrals and church naves. The beautiful old French oak in our foudre vessels helps us make elegant wine by gradually polishing and protecting the brightest, spiciest South facing Shiraz we grow on Yangarra.
“Sourced exclusively from Block 12 (2.3 Ha) which sits on a south-east facing, ironstone sandy outcrop. Hand-picked on the 26th March, 20% whole bunches, 30% whole berries mechanically sorted, 50% crushed in open fermenters and on skins for 20 days. A gentle maceration principle of wetting the cap and only draining and returning when reductive. Wild yeast ferment. No pressings are used in this wine. Exclusively matured in 25 hL French Oak foudres, 50% new and 50% one and two-year-old, for 16 months. Bottled November 2022. Certified Organic/Biodynamic.
“We had a very favourable growing season, with good winter rains and a mild flowering and fruit set period. Continued spring rainfall ensured a healthy canopy. The yields were pleasing and showed good balance between vine vigour and moderate berry size. The ripening period that began late January was very cool, with some welcome rainfall in mid-February. This delayed harvest, and with the cold nights and mild sunny days we were very pleased with fruit ripeness and intensity. The freshness and bright natural acidity of the fruit were a real feature.”
95 points, Aaron Brasher, The Real Review “Dark, inky and really opaque and youthful in the glass. Evocative aromas of mulberry, rhubarb, satsuma plum, licorice, char and spice. Rich, mouth-filling and plush on the palate, oodles of dark fruits, spice and creamy oak. A powerful wine with very supportive tannins and acidity ensuring texture, mouth-feel and brightness.”
94 points, Ned Goodwin, Halliday Wine Companion “There is a lighter touch to this than in past vintages, although it’s still a dense, compact and richly flavoured wine. A stellar vintage and a long, gentle extraction (133 days) on skins in a 675L ceramic egg helped. Pointed northern Rhône-like aromas of blueberry, violet, white pepper, dried nori, black olive and clove. An undercarriage of briar and hedgerow imparts a welcome savouriness. The sinewy tannic mettle suggests this will age well and grow with stature in time.” April 2023
94 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front “Lusty, slurpy red with beefiness and sweet-sour tendencies in the nicest sense. Stains the palate thick with rich, red fruitiness, some cola and light coffee elements, touches of toast and clove. Scents like all that, big wall of it, effective in delivery of McLaren Vale shirazisms. It’s a lovely red, relishes its warm-hearted appeal, delivers concentration and many layers. It feels fine tuned too, in the sense that there’s some decent tannin licks and woody spice to show edges. Nice.”
RRP $69 Our Special Price $51.99 – LAST OF THIS VINTAGE!
