2023 Clarendon Hills Domaine Clarendon Grenache

This is Clarendon Hills’ gateway to old-vine Grenache - sourced from dry-grown vines in Blewitt Springs and handled with the same care Roman Bratasiuk brings to all his single-vineyard work.

The fruit was hand-picked, destemmed, and fermented with a portion of whole berries using wild yeasts, before heading into seasoned French oak for 18 months. No fining, no filtration, just clean, expressive Grenache from one of McLaren Vale’s most prized subregions.

2023 was the third La Niña vintage in a row, and easily the best of the trio. A long, mild growing season pushed harvest deep into autumn, and the result was superbly balanced fruit - floral, lifted, and naturally fresh.

The wine is medium-weight with red berries, spice, and fine, sandy tannins. It’s fragrant and bright, but not soft - there’s structure here too. A smart introduction to the Clarendon Hills style, and a reminder of just how good Blewitt Springs Grenache can be.

93 points
“Perfumed aromas of blackberries, mulberry bush, dark chocolate and violets... Great value. Drink or hold.”
- Ryan Montgomery (James Suckling)

93 points
“The entry level, if you will, made from declassified fruit/wine from the three proprietary Blewitt Springs sites. The trajectory here is for brighter styles, though the graph curve is gradual. The house style remains, and there is no harm in that, given its history... It’s a fine introduction to the Clarendon Hills oeuvre, and at a more than fair tariff.”
- Marcus Ellis (Wine Companion)

93 points
“This is a powerful, inky rendition of this wine—and one not to be taken lightly. This is a whole lot of wine for the money."
- Erin Larkin (Wine Advocate)