2023 Aphelion Wait Vineyard Grenache

Aphelion winemaker Rob Mack sources his fruit from growers he knows and respects, with the fruit for this wine coming from the sandy soils of the Wait Vineyard in McLaren Vale's Blewitt Springs sub-region.

Originally planted in the 1940s, the vineyard is dry-grown and produces small berries with intense structure.

With only a single 600L barrel produced, this is a great example of truly age-worthy, collectable Grenache from a winemaker who loves the grape.

There's a little bit of ageing in neutral French oak, following a long and slow fermentation with 100% whole bunches.

96 points
"What a wine. This is a little edgier than the 2022 but lovely all the same. This is my favorite in the suite of 2023 Grenaches from Aphelion this year."
- Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

95 points
"That bunch sits up in this at present, with cooler, smoky herbal notes, interlocking with spice, faintly suggesting garam masala, green cardamom a feature, with cherry pit, dried cranberry, macerated strawberry, pressed flowers, umeboshi and bergamot strung across a web of chewy tannins. There’s a lot to give here, but a little time is required."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)