Clarendon Hills Romas Grenache 2007
93 points Wine Spectator: Firm, slightly gritty in texture, giving way to pure, focused black currant, plum and spice flavors. Weaves in a touch of tar on the long, expressive finish.
91 points Wine Advocate: The 2007 Romas Vineyard Grenache has a medium garnet-purple color and moderately intense dried cherry and mulberry aromas with some spicy fruits of the forest compote and dark chocolate notes. Crisp, concentrated and very spicy on the palate, it offers a medium level of chewy tannins and a long opulent finish.
91 points Wine Enthusiast: The rare Australian Grenache you might consider cellaring for more than a couple of years, the 2007 Romas features dark, plummy fruit accented with hints of coffee and chocolate. It’s full bodied and richly textured without being overly astringent, with a long finish. Drink 2012–2020.
ABOUT THIS VINEYARD: The Romas Grenache site is located in Blewitt Springs and was planted in 1920. The 'Romas Grenache' is the steepest, most elevated section of the Blewitt Springs Grenache vineyard. its uniquely special characters warrant its isolation and quarantine from the lower part of the Blewitt Springs vineyard. This patch sits at 280 metres above sea level and is approximately 7 Kms to the ocean. It enjoys a perfect due East aspect on a hillside that in some places reaches above a +40˚ slope gradient. The old vines struggle to survive on a steep rock hill face with yields a microscopic 0.5 tonne / acre. Each of the Blewitt Springs, Romas and Onkaparinga Grenache sites are planted on the same hill side. The Blewitt Springs and Romas patches are due East facing and the Onkaparinga site is at the uppermost hilltop/crown area but is western facing. All sites are within 200 metres of each other and offering special and individual expressions. These vineyards are globally unique - the unparalleled combination of 95+ year old, pre phylloxera vines planted in the oldest geology planet earth - surveyed at 1600 million years old ;produces rare and exotic exhibitions of Grenache, not seen anywhere else in the world. Underneath these old vines are primordial, ancient formations. There is a complete lack in nitrogenous matter available for plants/vines seeking nutrient and this results in extremely limited growth capabilities (Romas vines are approx 30 cm tall and each site produces less than 1 tonne / acre. The environment has effectively reduced the output potential of these vines. The rich and ancient minerals present in the root zone of these special 95+ year old vines also impart rare physiological components to the vines and excellent grapes are a result.
