Cirillo Estate Vincent Grenache 2023

Year in year out, the Cirillo Vincent Grenache offers one of the best value wines to be found.

The 2022 vintage of this wine was included in Max Allen’s Top 20 Drinks of 2023 in the AFR. The headline ran “The best of the reds, the whites and the rest – including one for $25. What are the drinks you will remember from 2023? Our expert rounds up his top choices.” The one for $25 (actually less than that) is the Cirillo Vincent Grenache 2022. Here’s what Max Allen had to say: “I first tasted this when I visited Marco Cirillo in the Barossa earlier this year working on a feature about how old-vine grenache, once overlooked and undervalued, is now one of the most sought-after wines in Australia. This example is produced from grenache grown in two vineyards, one planted in 1901, the other in 1906: it’s a super-vibrant and bold wine, full of flavours of dusky rose petal, black raspberry and a sprinkling of spice. Snappy, bright, dusty tannins, a joyful slurpy juiciness. Very moreish and outstanding value.”

And the 2023 is in the same vein.

Winemaker Marco Cirillo makes two grenaches, this being his entry level one. The fruit was sourced from two plots, one planted in 1901 the other 1906. With vines this old, the fruit has to be handpicked to avoid damaging the vine, and it was done so in three tranches to obtain a judicious mixture of acid, tannin and ripeness. Clever. Marco uses natural yeasts and prefers minimal additions and minimal intervention - all things you might associate with a ‘natural’ winemaker, just don’t go calling him that. Marco describes himself more as an old-school winemaker with plenty of patience and common sense. He also stressed to me the significance of keeping his winery super clean - essential when making wine this way in order to prevent risk of bacterial spoilage.

This is clear ruby red in the glass. On the nose you’ll find whisps of rose petal, juicy raspberry jubes, vanilla and fennel seed. On the palate, raspberry and pomegranate notes meld with spicy liquorice and pepper. A medium weight wine - deliciously crisp acid and feathery soft tannins deftly bookend this nice dry finish.

The Cirillo Estate Vincent Grenache really has to be one of the most underrated wines in the country. 100% grenache and made with only a light touch of old oak, this wine is always fresh and bright. The wine was fermented in old-style open-top fermenters, and was softly pressed out post ferment, with two thirds spending between 6-8 months in large old oak, the remaining third in stainless steel. The wine was patiently gravity settled prior to bottling so no filtering was required. You can see just how clear it is. The finished wine is 14% alcohol and sealed with a screwcap.

"The Vincent offers inviting aromas of rich fruit and white pepper. The palate is generous with intense true varietal characteristics. It’s delicately rounded and generous. A superb Grenache that has a lingering finish. A wine that can be enjoyed now, or well into the future."
Winemaker's notes.

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