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Product information

Vanguardist ‘MVG’ Grenache 2017

Grenache from McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

$57

$55ea in any 3+
$53ea in any 6+
Closure: Cork
Another Superb Effort! This just takes things to a whole new level for Aussie Grenache

Description

Excellent texture, lovely fine,plush, front mid-palate tannin. Spiced, cinnamon, cardamon, beautifully layering in earthy and savoury secondaries. Like all his wines this has an exceptional core of juicy fruit. So much fun to be had. Hints of pepper and violets wrap around it. Beautiful oak handling and exceptional élévage.

Out of stock

Check out all of the wines by Vanguardist

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

From Michael Corbett:

The Grenache that makes up this wine comes from an outstanding spot in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. A hidden gem of sorts, the high ‘Silver Sands’ vineyard was planted by Robert Rende and his father 50+ years ago. He has nurtured these dry farmed bush vines with minimal intervention, and we are now implementing organic practices in the vineyard. We use small (1T) fermenters to separate batches and pick the vineyard several times to ensure a spectrum of flavours and natural acid balance. Various methods including maceration carbonique, partial destemming and extended maceration of up to 287 days were used. Minimal physical extraction is implemented (no pumping and very minimal pigeage), rather time with skins/stems sees the development of tannin, flavour and aroma. All batches are kept separate in a mixture of barriques and puncheons, and after about a year of élévage the different batches are blended and just prior to bottling. No fining or filtration is used, and minimal SO2 of around 80ppm total is added at bottling.

About Vanguardist

VANGUARD /ˈVÆNɡⱭː(R)D
noun: vanguard; plural noun: vanguards
People or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics.
VANGUARDIST /ˈVÆNˌɡⱭːDɪST 
Pushing the boundaries of the norm or status quo

Michael Corbett has timed it well! He has entered the fray when Australia’s wine lovers are ready!

I’ve made mention of the shifts toward fresher more vibrant reds in McLaren Vale and the Barossa in the  past.

Tasting Michael’s red’s and white he’s making wines that encompass this philosophy. For decades winemakers argued that you couldn’t make ripe wines in these regions without hitting 15% alcohol, we had the overblown ‘Dolly Parton’ Chardonnay phase.

Perhaps it’s his time in working in NZ that has allowed him to discern the earliest possible point fruit is ripe and given him the delicate touch needed to coax the most out of it.

Michael has earned his stripes, get’s the science, and, experiments with clear intent. The wines are not at all extreme, they are poised, with great texture, harmony, intrigue, and, personality. The élévage is impressive.

Michael talks of pushing the boundaries, and, he does, but in a clever way. For those that have read my thoughts on natural wine, you’ll know I will not accept lazy makers, using the name as an excuse for faulty wine. There is absolutely no worry about that ever happening at Vanguardist!

In the Vineyard

Like many Australian producers, and, those kicking off their own thing fruit is sourced from multiple regions, Grenache and Mouverdre from Blewitt Springs in McLaren Vale, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from Adelaide Hills, Riesling from the Clare Valley. In Vanguardist’s case the pickers have stretched as far as Michael’s childhood home of Hawkes Bay in New Zealand for a splash of Syrah.

Michael Rende Blewitt Springs vineyard is the source of Michael’s Grenache. Rende immigrated to Australia from Italy, like many of the great vigneron pioneers in this country. With the help of his family he spent his evenings and weekends clearing the land of scrub and bush, prior to planting the very sandy Blewitt Springs block in the late 60s. All of this whilst running a successful concreting business on the southern side of Adelaide. His son Robert, who played an integral role from the early days, now runs the vineyard and lives on the estate.

Vanguardist has been working with the old vine goblet Grenache since 2015. It is the jewel in our crown in terms our wines and of the vineyards we work with. It is with great pleasure that we are working hands on with Robert, and will be implementing Biodynamic farming on the property from 2021.

In the Winery

Where in the World is Vanguardist?

Like many Australian producers, and, those kicking off there own thing fruit is sourced from multiple regions. Vanguardist’s case even countries. This wine is sourced from the Rende Vineyard in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. McLaren Vale is located 45 minutes south of Adelaide – the capital of South Australia, Australia. Like many of Australia’s wine regions work is underway, the McLaren Vale Scarc Earth Program, to establish / classify sub-zones and raise their profile.

Click to enlarge🔎

Where in the world does the magic happen?

121A Radford Rd, Seppeltsfield SA 5355, Australia

McLaren Vale
South Australia
Australia