Clarendon Hills Blewitt Springs Grenache 2002

More integrated after three days but it still finished too hot for my taste. Threre's no denying that there's a wealth of fruit and enough tannins to last a long time but will it ever be harmonious?

August 2004

The 2002 Grenache Old Vines Blewitt Springs Vineyard exhibits candied cherry, kirsch liqueur, pepper, and licorice scents along with a Chateau Rayas-like raspberry component. Full-bodied, opulent, and rich, with seamless integration of acidity, wood, and tannin, this medium to full-bodied, gorgeously elegant, intensely flavored 2002 is strikingly complex as well as showy. It will provide immense pleasure over the next decade. Roman Bratasiuk is one of Planet Earth's greatest winemakers, and obviously a top-notch viticulturist given his obsession with sourcing extraordinary read more...fruit from ancient McLaren Vale vineyards. -Wine Advocate    (hide)

Poured one glassful and corked the rest and put it in the ref. As suspected it's a huge wine, with impenetratable black color. For my taste there's too much confectionary nose. After 15 minutes in the glass there was nothing but confectionary nose, maybe candied cherries? Not my cup of tea today. I'll taste it again in couple of days to see if it develops any complexities....

August 2004

Wow, what a difference a few months makes! I opened a bottle of this in August and found it to be an unbalanced alcoholic beast that I just didn't understand. I opened my last bottle over the weekend and it behaved like a beauty, showing all its voluptuous curves. It offered up a beautiful nose of sweet dark fruits with a hint of nutmeg in the back ground. What amazed me the most was the palate. It was balanced and so nimble on its feet for a wine with 14.5% alcohol. A few months of sleep transformed this baby into a beauty. I wish I had more but I made a dumb mistake of selling a bunch after my tasting in August. read more...Also, had a bottle of the 2002 Kangrilla Grenache and it was just as beautiful, if not a touch better than the Blewitt. Note to self: make sure to give some time with Clarendon Hills grenache wines before judging them.    (hide)

December 2004

The color is amazingly striking. It is typical deep, dark garnet, but it has an intense sparkle to it that I have not seen before. The nose is truly world class. I find roasted wood, candied black cherry, more candied black cherry, and Graham cracker. The palate is deep, dark, but bright. It has great structure and wonderful balance. The layers of flavor are dominated by candied cherry. The nose opened nicely after an hour in the decanter, but the palate still seemed a bit closed. Great wine.

February 2004

Rating: 93/100 - As reviewed by The Wine Advocate