2024 Swinney Farvie Grenache

The Swinney family has been farming their 3,000-hectare "Franklands" property since 1922, but it was the transition to viticulture in the late 1990s that established them as one of the most significant fruit sources in Western Australia. Under the guidance of fourth-generation siblings Matt and Janelle Swinney and acclaimed winemaker Rob Mann, the estate has shifted from being a prestigious grower for others to a benchmark producer in its own right. The Farvie range represents the pinnacle of their holdings, sourced exclusively from small, ironstone-rich pockets of the vineyard where bush-vine architecture and meticulous dry-farming are used to capture the singular, ferrous personality of the Frankland River.

Farvie Grenache is sourced from a specific northeast-facing crest of the Wilson's Pool Vineyard, produced from established, dry-grown bush vines where the fruit was hand-selected over multiple passes to ensure optimal ripeness. It was fermented with 60% whole bunches and aged for 11 months in large, fine-grained French oak, resulting in a 13.9% alcohol profile defined by ferrous complexity and velvety tannins.

Other Reviews....
Wine critics are completely unbiased and have absolutely no favourites at all. First line of the wine writers’ creed. Unfortunately, despite our best intentions, it really isn’t true. There are always some samples which, when they arrive for tasting, bring a smile of anticipated pleasure. Even though Swinney have only been on the scene for the equivalent of a drop in the vinous ocean, they have established a reputation as one of the most exciting producers in the country. The latest releases will simply entrench this even further. With all the attention focused on Grenache from the warmer South Australian regions, it may seem odd that one of our very best hails from the far distant Frankland River. This is a single vineyard wine from the Wilson’s Pool Vineyard, picked from dry grown, bush vines. Winemaker, Robert Mann, includes 60% whole bunches in the ferment. The wine spent ten days on skins before pressing to large format, older French oak, where it spent eleven months maturing. A gleaming crimson/ruby hue, the complexity in this wine is immediately evident. The aromas weave through notes of cherries, warm earth, mulberries, fresh beetroot, kirsch, truffles, plums and a touch of florals and orange rind. There is an appealing savouriness here, but giving the wine time in the glass will be to its advantage. Supple and seamless, there is a fine line of acidity maintained throughout and great length here. This will provide pleasure for the next ten to fifteen years at least. One of our great Grenaches. Drink 2026-2041.
98 points
Ken Gargett - Wine Pilot

The 2024 Farvie Grenache is fragrant and perfumed, redolent of rose petals and raspberry seed, rhubarb and a hint of licorice. The palate is structural and quite delicate; it is ashy, mineral and spicy, with a very fine spool of flavor across the palate. Initially, the acidity and tannins in this wine displayed as firm (fine but firm), however, the wine then opened up tremendously and will continue to do so over the next day, and with that opening comes a relaxing of all the components. This is a gorgeous wine, one that should reset your expectations about this vintage—a reaffirmation of the truism that you must follow "producer, producer, producer." This is an excellent wine from an excellent vineyard and producer. 13.9% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2039.
96 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

60% whole bunch. 10 days on skins. Aged in large format seasoned French oak for 11 months. Harvested on the 1st of March.
Quite rosy and musky, paprika and mint, red fruits and toasted hazelnuts. It’s medium-bodied, a little sappy and nutty, a light grainy grip to tannin, has some blood orange tang in the mix, poached strawberry, quite minty and green herby, but not in a bad way. The finish has some malty characters in with strawberry and cranberry freshness, offering good length, closing with somewhat drying tannin. Lots of character. Perhaps a little too thickset, is a quibble. Drink 2026-2032.
93 points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Aromas have that distinctive ironstone character, which is regional and vineyard. The palate is quite tight and firmish, but there is good flesh in there. The higher acidity contributed to that tight palate sensation. In this case, a higher percentage of whole bunches to capture the freshness in the wine. Almost has a sour cherry-like character with a ferrous wet slaty character. More assertive structural tannins. The only thing different in the winery was the use of whole bunches, which was up to 65% in this case. The berry sizes were quite small and loose, so you get the brightness and concentration. It is a stunning wine that continues to define Australian grenache. Cellar 30 years.
98 points
Ray Jordan