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: 1998 Clarendon Hills "Clarendon Vineyard" Old Vine Grenache

1998 Clarendon Hills "Clarendon Vineyard" Old Vine Grenache

SKU #1404502 93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark Bright deep ruby. Sappy, multidimensional aromas of blackberry, cherry, cracked pepper, minerals, orange peel and flowers. Sweet, dense and spicy; compellingly complex, sappy Grenache. Powerful tannins give this wine superb structure and grip. Can be enjoyed already due to its great sweetness of fruit, but should gain in texture with several years of bottle aging. Inner quote mark (7/2000)

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark This wine was reviewed, but no tasting notes were given. (Tasting note, February, 2000: The dark ruby-colored 1998 Grenache Blewitt Springs Vineyard offers copious quantities of raspberry and cherry jam intermixed with spicy wood, earth, herb, and pepper scents. Heady, high alcohol gives the wine additional levels of glycerin, which coat the palate and teeth. Dense, chewy, and ripe, this large-scaled Grenache can be drunk now or cellared for 10-12 years. This immense, super-concentrated, muscular wine appears to mirror the personality and stature of proprietor/winemaker Roman Bratasiuk. Clarendon Hills produces some of my favorite Australian wines, and readers looking for flavor, personality, and pleasure, should seek out this limited production gem.) Inner quote mark (2/2002)

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1998 Clarendon Hills "Clarendon Vineyard" Old Vine Grenache

Price: $39.99

Quantity:

ST: 93

RP: 92

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Varietal:

Grenache

- Fat, ripe and rich with ample fruit and vibrant acidity, wines made from Grenache are easy to love. While its origins are still under dispute - some suggest Spain, where it is called Garnacha, while others say it came first from Sardinia, where it is called Cannonau - it is inarguably one of the most planted varietals in the world. A hearty grape, Grenache does well in hot, dry regions and its sturdy stalk also makes it well-suited to withstand blustery conditions like the Provençal Mistral. It ripens at relatively high sugar levels, which translates to higher potential alcohol in the wines it produces. Grenache may be most famous in the Southern Rhône areas such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas where it has long been an important component of delicious blends. But it's also the source of the crisp rosés from Tavel, Lirac and Provence, and age-worthy vins doux naturels like Rivsaltes and Banyuls. Grenache is also found in large swaths of northeastern Spain, in Navarre, in Rioja, where it plays a supporting role in blends with Tempranillo, and in the distinctive wines of Priorat. The grape was once the most widely planted varietal in Australia, though Shiraz and Cabernet have overtaken it. In California, Grenache plantings have dwindled from their heyday in the San Joaquin Valley, but it is starting to see a resurgence, albeit in smaller plantings, where other Rhône varietals thrive.

Country:

Australia

- While it is true that the greatest strides in Australian winemaking have come in the last 30 years or so, commercial viticulture began as early as the 1820s and has developed uninterrupted ever since. The majority of the great wine regions are in the southeastern area of the continent, including Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, and Coonawarra in South Australia; Yarra Yarra Valley and Pyrenees in Victoria; and the Upper and Lower Hunter Valleys in New South Wales. Many of the wines from Southeastern Australia are based on Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon and various blends including Grenache and Mourvedre. In Western Australia, along the Margaret River, great strides are being made with Pinot Noir as well as Bordeaux-styled reds. There are also many world-class releases of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from the land Down Under, where Riesling also enjoys international acclaim. While many equate Aussie wines with “value,” there are more than a few extremely rare and pricey options, which never fail to earn the highest ratings from wine publications and critics throughout the world.

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