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2003 Clarendon Hills Clarendon Vineyard Old Vines Grenache

Clarendon, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
$59. 99
Bottle
$719.88 Dozen
Cellar: 5 - 8 Years (2009-2012)
ABV: 14.8%
Closure: Cork

Grenache is one of the great drinks of the wine world, yet too often we see far less than perfect expressions of the variety, with the dominant raspberry jube flavour profile. The wines are a superb match with a variety of foods – in fact can almost carry most food styles which might account for the enthusiasm for these wines in Asia.
Vibrant purple mauve colour, with deep dark purple heart. The Clarendon Vineyard traditionally produces very aromatic wines, however, at the barrel tasting of this wine, the nose was still restrained. That’s hardly surprising given the temperature of the cellars, however, with some warming up, aromas of violets, spice, raspberry and confectionary emerge. The palate flavour profile is mouth filling with flavours of raspberry, spice and violet infusions, followed by a warm spicy back palate. Fine grained tannins with good acidity, followed by a long spicy, raspberry aftertaste.
Cellar 5-8 years (2009-2012)
Alc/Vol: 14.8%

Robert Parker's Review
Clarendon Hills is the reference point for high quality Australian Grenache. The brilliant, evolved 2003 Grenache Old Vines Clarendon Vineyard (head-pruned vines planted in 1920) reveals notes of sweet cherry jam intermixed with licorice and sandy/loamy soil undertones. Full-bodied, opulent, and lush, it should be consumed over the next 7-10 years.
(Notes sourced from Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #155)
ROBERT PARKER'S RATING: (90-93) points