1996 Clarendon Hills Kangarilla Grenache
Clarendon, South Australia,
AUSTRALIA
$79. 99
Bottle
$959.88 Dozen
Closure: Cork
Other Reviews….
Two of the most decadent wines made on planet Earth are the limited production (about 900 cases of each) of Old Vine Grenache. In 1996, there are three offerings, but I only tasted two, the Blewitt Springs and Kangarilla Vineyard. The Blewitt Springs is the first wine I have ever tasted that may be almost too rich to drink. Consequently, I have a slight preference for the 1996 Kangarilla Vineyard (15% alcohol). The latter wine offers an opaque purple colour, and a smashingly intense, decadent nose of black raspberries, blueberries, and pepper, followed by equally impressive thick, viscous, super-concentrated, remarkably pure and well-balanced flavours. There are no hard edges to this huge old vine Grenache. The wine's glycerine level (because of the high alcohol) gives it a sweet impression on the palate, and thus it can be drunk now. However, I predict this wine will last for 15 or more years. The wine was aged in 3-4 year old barrels. No new oak is used, and the wine is the better for it. This is one of my favourite Australian wineries and readers who have followed my reviews know of my enthusiasm for recent vintages of the Old Vine Grenache, Astralis, and Merlot.
95 points
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate
Two of the most decadent wines made on planet Earth are the limited production (about 900 cases of each) of Old Vine Grenache. In 1996, there are three offerings, but I only tasted two, the Blewitt Springs and Kangarilla Vineyard. The Blewitt Springs is the first wine I have ever tasted that may be almost too rich to drink. Consequently, I have a slight preference for the 1996 Kangarilla Vineyard (15% alcohol). The latter wine offers an opaque purple colour, and a smashingly intense, decadent nose of black raspberries, blueberries, and pepper, followed by equally impressive thick, viscous, super-concentrated, remarkably pure and well-balanced flavours. There are no hard edges to this huge old vine Grenache. The wine's glycerine level (because of the high alcohol) gives it a sweet impression on the palate, and thus it can be drunk now. However, I predict this wine will last for 15 or more years. The wine was aged in 3-4 year old barrels. No new oak is used, and the wine is the better for it. This is one of my favourite Australian wineries and readers who have followed my reviews know of my enthusiasm for recent vintages of the Old Vine Grenache, Astralis, and Merlot.
95 points
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate