The Smart Vineyard in Clarendon is one of THE Grenache blocks in McLaren Vale. You only have to see the proliferation of single vineyard releases from the likes of Thistledown, S.C. Pannell, Hayes Family & Brash Higgins for evidence. Here, Wes Pearson does the site justice with maturation in older, larger oak and no filtration. A lovely expression it is, too – a sandy, powerful red fruit style of impact. Dried raspberries, bitumen and plums with open, plump, yet concentrated fruit, but with this drying streak through the finish. If anything, it’s just a bit hefty, which gives this singular fruit power punch delivered with a little warmth. Super concentration and obvious quality make this a top release, regardless.

THE VERDICT

• Best drinking: now to five years
• Score (out of 20): 18
• Score (out of 100): 93
• Alcohol %: 14.4
• RRP (in $AUD): 50
• Winery website: https://jwww.juxtaposed.com.au/
• Would I buy it?: I’d share a bottle