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Easy-drinking & crunchy blend of Grenache, Mataró, Carigan, Counoise and Shiraz, created as in a ‘Cotes Du Rhone’ style-inspired bistro wine from the classic Barossa varieties of from mostly unirrigated old vine vineyards.
Many years ago, this wine started its life as a tribute to my favourite wine/bar restaurant in Paris, but today it is a world-class leader in Grenache/Mataro (Mourvèdre) circles. This is because it is one of the crunchiest and most lifted of this band of gastro-brigands, and yet it manages to pack a memorable punch without any residual oak, tannin or alcohol spoiling the view.
Carignan and Counoise play a vital part here, and the Shiraz component has been whittled down to a mere 2% in the mix, signalling a complete departure from a clumsier GSM model. Spicy, cool, moreish and pricked with tasty herb and spice details, this is a winning Juveniles!
A perennial favourite, Grenache from old vines shows its ability to exhibit lifted florals, red juicy fruit characters such as wild cherry, raspberry and pomegranate. The addition of Rhone varietals Counoise and Carignan add a savoury complexity complementing Mataro aromas of beef jerky and Chinese five spice. The palate exhibits a medium-bodied texture from this Rhone blend with long acidity balancing a fruit freshness around a slightly firmer tannin profile than previous vintages.
Food Pairing: Think French bistro. An easy drinking, yet intense wine that can pair wonderfully with an array of dishes from French onion soup, escargots or even steak tartare
18/20 Matthew Jukes
92/100 Wine Spectator
90/100 Wine Advocate's Robert Parker
