Vanguardist - Oeno Grenache 2023

A bright, expressive, and fruit driven Grenache from the McLaren Vale.

Rich aromatics on the nose and medium bodied, with grippy tannins, balancing acidity, and a long, bright finish. Its fruit forward, with notes of raspberry, red currant, and cherry, a touch of brambly fruit spice and pomegranate on the palate, along with red florals and notes of oak spice, dried herbs, and dusty earth. There's a subtle mineral element to it, and a delightful amaro note on the back of the palate. 

The Oeno is full of elegance and complexity, a beautiful expression of Grenache that put its terroir on show.

NERD NOTES

NAME: ‘Oeno’ derives from both the Evening Primrose (Oenothera Biennis) found in this vineyard, combined with the science dedicated to the study and knowledge of wines, Oenology. The vineyard boasts an altitude exceeding 200m above sea level. The top soil is pure sand, with clay and red ironstone pockets below the surface.

VINTAGE OVERVIEW: We experienced ample rain in the winter of 2022, with continued moist and cool conditions into spring. This delayed budburst and resulted in slower shoot growth. The combination of late flowering and fruit set, combined with cool summer conditions resulted in a slightly late and shortened vintage period.

HARVEST: We commenced hand harvesting on March 16th and concluded swiftly ten days later on the 26th with our third pick. The yields were down from the 2022, averaging around 30HL/Ha. Slightly below the long-term average.

VINIFICATION:

• Whole bunch fermentation: 60%
• Elevage: The wine was aged in french oak 500L puncheons for 11 months post-press.
• Blending: The final wine was bottled without fining or filtration.