The 2016 Noon Winery Eclipse is one of Australia's benchmark Rhône-style blends and a flagship wine of Drew Noon. Produced in limited quantities from old, dry-grown vineyards in McLaren Vale, Eclipse has earned cult status among collectors for its richness, complexity, and remarkable ability to combine power with elegance.
The 2016 blend comprises 87% Grenache, 8% Graciano, and 5% Shiraz, sourced from three estate vineyards surrounding the Noon family home and winery in McLaren Vale. These old, unirrigated bush vines grow on their own roots, a rarity in the modern wine world, allowing them to express a true sense of place. Low yields and dry growing conditions in 2016 produced small berries with exceptional flavour concentration and tannin structure.
The vintage delivered an outstanding Eclipse. Despite its full-bodied nature, the wine maintains remarkable poise and balance, a hallmark of great Grenache. Drew Noon has long championed the ability of old-vine Grenache to be both intensely perfumed and powerfully structured, and the 2016 vintage exemplifies this philosophy.
The grapes were hand harvested and fermented in small open vats with manual pigeage to gently extract colour and tannin. Pressing was undertaken using traditional basket presses before maturation for 18 months in seasoned 300-litre French and American oak barrels, together with large oak foudres and demi-muids. Minimal intervention throughout the winemaking process ensures the vineyard character remains at the forefront.
The bouquet is intensely aromatic, displaying layers of raspberry, wild strawberry, red cherry and blackberry, complemented by notes of exotic spice, liquorice, dried herbs, earth, and subtle savoury complexity. Grenache provides the wine's perfume and silky texture, Graciano contributes freshness and structure, while Shiraz adds depth and richness.
The palate is full-bodied yet beautifully balanced, with concentrated red and dark berry fruits, fine tannins, natural acidity, and exceptional persistence. Rich without heaviness, it delivers both immediate enjoyment and the capacity for further evolution in bottle.
Now drinking beautifully, the 2016 Eclipse will continue to reward careful cellaring through to 2030 and beyond.
Producer Tasting Note – Drew Noon
"2016 has produced an excellent Eclipse. The old vines yielded small berries in response to the dry conditions and this has endowed the wine with extra flavour and tannin structure. It is full bodied but not heavy, maintaining a lovely natural poise and balance. It's amazing how Grenache can be so damn pretty and yet so authoritative. But you need old vines and low yields to get this intensity. Drink it now with char grilled beef and garlic butter or cellar for up to 10 years."
Winery: Noon Winery
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Blend: 87% Grenache, 8% Graciano, 5% Shiraz
Vintage: 2016
Style: Full-Bodied Rhône-Style Blend
Closure: Screwcap
Drinking Window: 2018–2030+
Food Pairing: Char-grilled beef with garlic butter, roast lamb, slow-cooked pork, Mediterranean cuisine, and mature hard cheeses.
