2025 Oria-Riff Old Vine Grenache Dry Red

Cooper David-Draper is carving out a seriously interesting niche with Oria-Riff. He's throwing back to old-school Australian naming conventions with the "Dry Red" moniker on the label, but the liquid inside is pure new-wave McLaren Vale. The fruit comes from Fiona Wood’s prized 1960s vines planted in the classic deep sands right on the Blewitt Springs border.

Cooper uses a double harvest to balance early-pick vibrancy with deeper ripeness. He leans heavily on whole clusters and extensive skin contact before putting it into old wood. Give this a bit of air or a decent swirl in a big glass because it’s got a wild, slightly feral streak that needs a moment to shake loose.

Once it settles, it's a beautifully eccentric drop. Think dried botanical herbs, tart red currants, and an earthy, gamey undertone. It’s medium-bodied and drives on an assertive, gravelly tannin profile rather than sweet fruit plumpness, hitting a savoury, structural finish that feels totally Italianate. Cooper is pushing boundaries here and we love the direction he's heading.

94+ points
"There’s an Italianate quality to this – freisa echoes perhaps – with a coolness through it, though flavours are certainly ripe."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)