Project Description
UNION STREET GRENACHE
The Union Street Grenache is made from the same single block of old Grenache bush vines on the De Fazio Vineyard, as the Old Bush Vine Grenache. We’ve carefully preserved these old bush vines as they’ve become quite rare in the Barossa Valley.
This perseverance is rewarded with a delightful wine with an inviting nose of wild raspberries and hibiscus flowers, and a palate full of cherry and berry flavours with a hint of dark spices intermingled with fine tannins producing a long fresh finish.
The Union Street Grenache is released earlier than the Old Bush Vine Grenache, so if you have the patience you’ll be rewarded by cellaring this wine, but we bet you can’t it’s too good right now.
VINTAGES
GROWING SEASON
2018 vintage was superb. Winter was slightly wetter than average getting the vines off to a brilliant start leading them into Spring which was warmer and drier than average. Rain in early December refreshed the vines and ensured they remained strong and healthy for the overall dry and hot Summer. Autumn also remained dry with perfect Autumnal temperatures leading into harvest. The 2018 yields are good and the quality is excellent, a classic Barossa vintage.
VINEYARD
The Union Street Grenache is made from a 4-acre single vineyard block planted in the early 1900s. These vines are dry-grown, producing grapes of intense favour. The vineyard soil on the block is shallow sand over sandstone at the top end of the block, with sandy loamy soil over red clay at the bottom end of the block. Yields are about 1 to 1.5 tons to the acre.
WINE MAKING
2017 Union Street Grenache was hand-picked on April 4th, grapes were gently de-stemmed into small open-top fermenters. The must was warmly fermented using native yeast and gentle hand pump overs were carried out twice a day for flavour and colour extraction. After fermentation on skins for fourteen days the must was traditionally pressed and then filled to barrel. The wine was matured in seasoned French oak hogsheads for 24 months prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
2018 Union Street Grenache is deep purple in colour. Instantly exuding its varietal brightness, there are aromas of rose, musk, raspberry, strawberry, and black cherry. These inviting aromatics lead to a full bodied palate. Juicy red berry fruits dominate along with fresh red plum and blackberry. Natural tannins are evident adding structure but are extremely fine and well integrated. The pure fruit is respected with seasoned barrel maturation adding harmony. Very smooth soft and silky overall with a clean lingering finish, this is a stylish wine. This stunning Grenache well now but is but will cellar well over the coming years.
GROWING SEASON
The 2017 season was stunning. The vines got off to a fantastic start with a wetter than average Winter and mild Spring. Summer brought typically average warm conditions with some excellent rainfall, twice the average. This kept the vines in superb condition for steady ripening into Autumn which remained dry with warm sunny days and cool nights. Yields from 2017 are good and quality is exceptional.
VINEYARD
The Union Street Grenache is made from a 4-acre single vineyard block planted in the early 1900s. These vines are dry-grown, producing grapes of intense favour. The vineyard soil on the block is shallow sand over sandstone at the top end of the block, with sandy loamy soil over red clay at the bottom end of the block. Yields are about 1 to 1.5 tons to the acre.
WINE MAKING
2017 Union Street Grenache was hand-picked on April 28th, grapes were gently de-stemmed into small open-top fermenters. The must was warmly fermented using native yeast and gentle hand pump overs were carried out twice a day for flavour and colour extraction. After fermentation on skins for fourteen days the must was traditionally pressed and then filled to barrel. The wine was matured in seasoned French oak hogsheads for 24 months prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
2017 Union Street Grenache maroon in colour. The aromas are elated, erupting with pronounced old vine Grenache varietal characters of rose potpourri, musk, ripe raspberry and a hint of cinnamon. The medium bodied palate is bursting with pure fruits. Very juicy with loads of intensity the plush fruit flavours with fine gentle natural tannins adding definition and structure. The seasoned French oak maturation has given it sweet mellow flavours of allspice to the incredible old vine fruit quality. A lengthy finish with the varietal purity lingers. Harmony and stylish fruit are the hallmarks of this wine. This beautiful Grenache drinks well now but can be cellared for quiet some time.
