YALUMBA THE TRI-CENTENARY GRENACHE ANCESTOR VINES 2022

Handpicked from old, gnarly bush vines planted in 1889 in two acres of deep sandy loam soil over red-brown clay in the heart of the Barossa Valley. Year after year these ancestor vines give small quantities of exceptional grapes.

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"This single vineyard Grenache has been crafted from grapes sourced from a two acre block in the Yalumba Tri-Centenary vineyard. Located in the heart of the Barossa Valley, this block comprises 820 gnarly old bush vines that were planted in 1889. The vineyard features deep, sandy loam layers underlain with red-brown clay. As temperatures increase and evaporation levels rise, moisture levels in the sand decrease rapidly, but the vine is able to draw moisture from the underlying clay. With careful management, dry grown vines on these soils can consistently produce outstanding quality fruit.

Perfumed aromas of violets, wild cherry, raspberry and pomegranate are interwoven with notes of white pepper and blood orange. The hallmark of this wine is 372 day post-ferment maceration which imparts incredibly silky texture and refinement to the palate, creating a textural wine with depth, structure, vibrant acidity and defined tannins. Stunning now, it will gradually evolve over the medium term."

95/100 Ken Gargett, WinePilot.com, September 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"One of this country’s most famous and finest Grenache continues its stellar form with this latest release. Stonkingly good. The fruit comes from less than a hectare of bush vines, planted back in 1889 – just 820 vines, if one wants to be specific. The wine then spends the best part of a year, post-ferment, on skins. Pale crimson, there is that typical Grenache/Yalumba strawberries and cream character. Florals, cherries, milk chocolate, spices and mixed red fruits, this is softly and seductively textured, finely balanced, seamless, with fine tannins and a lingering finish. The palate sees more spicy notes emerge and even a flick of white pepper. There are already early signs of the complexity to come although the wine has eight to twelve years ahead of it, at least. Compare the price of this to that of wines like Rayas and Bonneau and it quickly becomes obvious that in world terms, they are almost giving this away. Okay, not quite but it is sensational buying for a rare wine of world class quality."

95/100 Ray Jordan, WinePilot.com, October 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"These old vines have seen years from three centuries and are now more than 130 years old. Thankfully they show no sign of yielding to the sands of time. This is a textured and highly flavoursome light to medium-bodied Grenache that captures the essence of this variety in the Barossa. Bright high-energy red fruits with a slightly subtle earthy nuance create complexity. The seamless and velvety smooth palate delivers through to a long finish."

95+/100 Tom Kline, WinePilot.com (2022 Vintage)
"This sees 372 days of post-fermentation maceration which plays a large role in what is a wonderfully pure and lifted wine with excellent depth and savoury complexity. Lovely pale ruby colour with defined aromas of macerated strawberry, cranberry, plum skin, cherry cola, white pepper spice, and subtle prosciutto meatiness. Some dried herbs and rosehip with air. The melding of red fruits and savouriness makes for a Grenache of freshness and complexity in equal measure. The palate is lifted and cooling, suave and elegant with a spine of chalky fine tannins and fresh red-fruited acidity providing carry for the red fruits and spice notes. With seemingly endless length here, this is a wine of fine boned elegance, intensity, poise, and complexity. Bravo."

94/100 Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, February 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"So succulent and fine boned yet retains quite a bit of red berry fruitiness, sweet spice, some cola characters and woody elements, with a suggested concentration on hand. Very perfumed too, pretty and savoury in the same sniff, raspberry, fennel, mahogany, cardamom, game meat going on. Texture in the palate shows really fine tannin profile, grippy yet lithe and puckering amongst medium weight feel with some earthiness and botanical (pleasing) bitterness in tow. I like it. An Italianate feel seems to resonate through the wine. Really good."

QWineReviews.com, September 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"From Ancestor vines planted in 1889, no one else handles Grenache like this Yalumba Tri-Centenary and the results achieved by winemaker Kevin Glastonbury are monumentous. 372 days on skins is something of a rarity for this variety and what a prized possession it is. Savoury delights frame the delightful blueberries and mulberries that seep through its veins. Skin contact is evident adding a fine veil of texture. Sauteed mushrooms, smoked tea leaves, fine shards of chocolate and a silty earthiness work wonderfully with delicate exotic spices and Chinese Five spice. Give it a decant and let it shine – it's certainly not a pour and drink now option. Let it breathe and watch it unfurl gracefully. Superb stuff. Drink to eight years+."