Woodstock Octogenerian Grenache 2011 (McLaren Vale)
14.5%, Screwcap, $32
Source: Sample
www.woodstockwine.com.au

Contains 15% Tempranillo apparently. Temp seems to be creeping in everywhere at present and the Vale seems like a logical home.

I love the packaging on this red too, the wine driven along by both a lovely imagery and this yarn:

‘For decades we and our neighbours tended to our frugal Grenache vines on sandy soils at Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. Commonly referred to as 80 year old vines, or “Perpetual Octogenarians”, their pedigree of quality became more evident over the decades. When the opportunity arose to become the next custodians of more of these meagre cropping, gnarly vines, the Collett family embraced them in 1988. We nurture these rarely respected Octogenarians and enjoy their lasting characters. Long live OCTO!’

Lolly red fruit, cranberry juice and quite a bit of fennel like spice. No richness here perhaps, the vintage just not translating into flesh, the wine much more transparent because of it though. The more it sits in the glass the more sullen it looks actually, though it is still quite lively certainly of high quality. Rather good, light Grenache from a hard vintage.

Drink: 2012 – 2018
Score: 17.1/20 90/100
Would I buy it? Probably not. I’d drink a glass if handed to me but I still would prefer a little more flesh.