The Grenache-y joy of the Yalumba Vine Vale Grenache 2023

Modern Australian Grenache is such a pleasure. Yalumba’s line of wines is excellent, too. This Vine Vale red comes from 1949-planted vines, which is magnificent in itself. Juicy, open, with no obvious oak, there’s a line of whole-bunch spice, maybe a little red confection but lucid, ripe, mouthfilling and with that proper intensity of old Barossan fruit. Maybe not quite as firm and long as the fanciest wines, but so much briary red fruit joy. I’m a fan.

THE VERDICT

• Best drinking: now and for a decade
• Score (out of 20): 18
• Score (out of 100): 93
• Alcohol %: 14
• RRP (in $AUD): 40
• Winery website: https://www.yalumba.com/
• Would I buy it?: definitely