As ever, my ham-fisted photography does Wes Pearson’s info-heavy Juxtaposed labels no justice (which Wes reminds me about all the time), and no change here. Lucky, the wines are top shelf.
No change with the quality in this Juxtaposed Smart Vineyard Grenache 2023 either – there are some proper superstar shades here. A-grade fruit is a key plank, with grapes from the 1965 plantings on the Smart Vineyard in Clarendon. As with the usual Juxtaposed mode, there are no adds other than yeast and a bit of sulphur, and the juice is matured for 17 months in barrel.
There are some interesting contrasts here – it’s ruby-coloured, with a blackberry milk chocolate vibe, but I don’t think it’s oak, and it’s more of a fruit/vineyards expression. Interestingly, the natural acidity (TA 6.6g/L if you care about the numbers) can’t be underestimated here; it gives this a freshness and a bit of violet lift. Compared to its blacker, warmer Shadow Creek Vineyard brother, this feels more silken, more polished and medium rather than a dark Grenache monster. Natural feeling though without the wildness, this is a delicious, thoughtful expression of McLaren Vale Grenache.
- Best drinking: now and for a decade
- Score (out of 20): 18.7
- Score (out of 100): 95
- Alcohol %: 14.2
- RRP (in $AUD): 50
- Winery website: https://www.juxtaposed.com.au/
- Would I buy it?: Absolutely. It’s a star
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