Description
The 2024 Grenache 100yo Vineyard is a rare, small-batch expression that stands as a tribute to the “living history” of the Barossa Valley. Sourced from a dry-grown, centenarian vineyard in the Seppeltsfield sub-region, these 100-year-old vines produce fruit of remarkable concentration and soulful complexity.
Winemaker Tom White employs a “serious” approach to this Grenache, moving away from the simple “confectionary” style to create a wine defined by its architectural tannins and savory depth.
The Terroir: A Century of Resilience
The fruit for this cuvée is hand-picked from a historic vineyard planted in the early 1900s. Located in Seppeltsfield, the site features sandy loam over rich red clay—the ideal geological mix for old-vine Grenache.
Ancient Vines: These century-old vines have reached a natural balance, producing small, thick-skinned berries that offer an “unusual freshness” and intense varietal character.
Seppeltsfield Profile: Known for imparting a lifted, aromatic profile often described as “Barossa Garrigue”—a mix of dried herbs, earth, and floral spice.
The Craft: Modern Precision meets Heritage Fruit
Tom White uses a minimalist, “vine-to-glass” approach to ensure the voice of the 100-year-old vines remains clear and unmasked.
Whole-Bunch Fermentation: Approximately 20% whole bunches are used during the ferment in traditional open fermenters. This adds an ethereal herbal lift and a fine, “crunchy” tannin structure.
Seasoned Oak Aging: The wine is matured for 12 months in seasoned French oak hogsheads. No new oak is used, ensuring the pure raspberry and cherry fruit profiles are not dominated by wood.
Purity: In keeping with the Curator Wine Co ethos, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered and is 100% vegan-friendly.
The Appearance: A vibrant, translucent garnet with brilliant clarity.
The Nose: Intensely aromatic and “lipsmacking.” It opens with pure notes of wild strawberry, pomegranate, and red cherry, layered with exotic spices, orange blossom, and a hint of dried thyme.
The Palate: A “wine of energy.” It features a silky, medium-bodied texture with a “seductive” core of red fruit. The whole-bunch influence provides a savory, peppery edge and fine, chalky tannins.
The Finish: Long and precise, defined by a refreshing mineral tension and a lingering note of blood orange and earth.
