2017 McLaren Vale Grenache
The Bekkers’ press release mentions how, over 20 years of tasting some well-cellared McLaren Vale wine, they have observed that blends of Shiraz and Grenache, as opposed to single varietal Shiraz, have cellared better in many cases. The couple posit that this is perhaps down to the tannin profile, natural acidity or fragrance of the Grenache. Doubtless this explains why they have increased the percentage of Grenache, making the 2017 “deliberately a little lighter framed.” Whilst the Grenache portion has increased, this blend’s emphatic blackberry, black cherry (close to the stone), fleshier plum and (red) liquorice point to Syrah. It has a reductive peppery, meaty, graphite note too (I picked up some ‘pingy’ saddle soap on day one too, which I usually associated with Mourvedre), which pins back the fruit a touch and, with the Grenache’s pippy raspberry and raft of sandpapery tannins, lends freshness to the palate.
Lovely fluidity and grace.
Bekkers Syrah Grenache 2017 is a blend of three Syrah vineyards (two in Clarendon at 194-242m & 309-329m, one in Seaview at 102-122m) and the same Onkaparinga Hills’ vineyard which contributed to the single varietal Grenache. The fruit was harvested on 21 March and on 6, 7 & 13th April and naturally fermented separately (with 15-20% whole bunch, the rest whole berry), following a 5-6 day cold soak. It was aged for around a year on fine lees in seasoned French oak barrels (300l & 500l) and blended and bottled in August 2018. 14.5%
Reviewed 18/02/2019
SARAH AHMED
THE WINE DETECTIVE