2023, SOS – Heathcote (Camel Range), Grenache

Grenache – Heathcote 14.1% ALC – 500 dozen

The wine: Packing in the berries by the basketful, this is a juicy wine with the intensity of a fruit cake. Inspired by some great producers in the Southern Rhône, this wine is fresh and expressive in its early life. The tannins integrate into the fruit and the dried herbs become more apparent as it ages. Rose petals drift over dried fruit, mingling with violets and a touch of Turkish delight. The deep, juicy palate brims with berries and dark cherries. The finish wraps it all up like a warm hug of sweet chocolate tannins. It also delicious if chilled on a hot evening.

Eat with: Barbequed sausages. Roasted beets tossed with bitter leaves and fresh cheese.

Harvest: At the northern end of the Heathcote GI, the climate is truly continental, with hot days and cool nights. These warm days ripen Grenache with ease, building layers of flavour. The 2023 fruit was harvested in the last week of March, following a burst of hotter weather toward the end of ripening. After destemming, the must fermented on skins for nine days before pressing.

“A medium, bright crimson. Subtle aromas of red cherry, raspberry and dried herbs lead to the medium-bodied, mouth-filling and flavoursome palate. Fine, persistent tannins round out a wine that’s approachable now but that will also reward another 2-3 years in the cellar.”

91 points, Phillip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion, May 2026