Swinney Grenache 2023

Beautiful lifted fragrance of lavender, sarsaparilla, cola, sweet cherry, potpourri and blackberry. The finest and most ethereal release ever of this wine, yet utterly different from the pinot-esque examples emanating from McLaren Vale. Silky flow, framed by deft tannins; the sweet red summer fruits counter-pointed by savoury soy and autumn compost. Very long, drawn out mineral finish. Nebbiolo meets Volnay. Norris, Waters Wine Co

Outstanding grenache has been the calling card of Swinney, drawing gaze to their wonderful vineyard in Frankland River and rewriting the code with their medium-bodied, perfumed and succulent styling. We see a continuity of quality with this wine, with all the rosy perfume, floral lift, quiet meatiness and exotic spice, the concentrated but silky drawl of red and black cherry fruitiness and a swish of incredibly pure, fine, elegant ribbons of fine, granular tannin. With all this, an urgency to gulp – the wine, again, a high water mark for elegant reds of Australia. 96 points – Halliday Wine Companion