2020 Clarendon Hills Onkaparinga Grenache 750ml

Overview

Clarendon Hills Onkaparinga Grenache is a rare single-vineyard expression from high-altitude Blewitt Springs in McLaren Vale. Produced from dry-grown bush vines planted in the 1940s, the 2020 combines deeply layered red and blue fruit, floral perfume and mineral intensity with supple tannins and remarkable concentration. The wine is produced only in selected vintages and represents one of Clarendon Hills’ most distinctive old-vine Grenache sites.

Vineyard

The Onkaparinga vineyard lies on a west-facing site in the upper reaches of Blewitt Springs at approximately 250 metres elevation. The bush vines were planted in the 1940s and are now nearly 80 years old. Rocky soils with quartz, ironstone and shale restrict vigour and yields, contributing concentration and pronounced mineral character. The site is dry grown, extremely low yielding and treated by Clarendon Hills as one of its most important Grenache vineyards.

Vintage

Dry conditions through winter 2019 resulted in a very light fruit set, followed by an early veraison in January 2020. The small crop ripened under favourable conditions with cool summer nights, producing fruit of strong intensity while retaining integrated acidity and structure.

Winemaking

The low-yielding, dry-grown fruit was hand-picked and fermented with wild yeast, with 60% retained as whole berries. All pressings were returned to barrel, and the wine matured for 18 months in tightly grained French oak between one and five years old. It was bottled at the winery without fining or filtration.

Producer Tasting Notes

Richly layered and deeply flavoured, with Turkish delight, musk, violet and rose petal alongside blueberry, raspberry and cherry skin. Incense and crushed-rock mineral notes add complexity, while supple tannins bring balance and effortless power.

Critic Reviews

97/100 — Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
“This 2020 Onkaparinga Grenache is the seductive Grenache in the pack… more silken and supple.”
Tasted July 2022

96/100 — Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
“Exotic perfume of dried roses, musk and spice, raspberry and blueberry… superb stony tannin… and a nutty and ‘mineral’ finish of outstanding length.”
Tasted April 2022

James Suckling
“From a section of the vineyard located on a gentle, west-facing slope… ripe-blueberry nose and some glossy spices… very sleek and fresh feel.”
Tasted November 2021

96/100 — Gourmet Traveller
“This west-facing parcel is drinking so well already with aromas of ripe spiced blueberry and blue plum fruits… smooth-honed and supple tannin texture.”

Specifications

• Vintage: 2020
• Producer: Clarendon Hills
• Country: Australia
• Region: Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, South Australia
• Grape Variety: 100% Grenache
• Vineyard: Onkaparinga
• Vineyard Attribute: Single vineyard, old bush vines
• Vine Planting: 1940s
• Elevation: Approximately 250 metres
• Exposure: West-facing
• Soil: Quartz, ironstone and shale-rich rocky soils
• Viticulture: Low yielding, dry grown
• Harvest: Hand picked
• Fermentation: Wild yeast, 60% whole berry
• Maturation: 18 months in 1–5 year old tightly grained French oak
• Fining: None
• Filtration: Unfiltered
• Production: 6,000 bottles
• Winemaker: Roman Bratasiuk
• Drinking Window: 2022–2037