2023 Aphelion Brini Vineyard Grenache

Highly Rated
Elegant, savoury Grenache from a McLaren Vale producer who knows how to make the grape sing.

Price:
Sale price$73.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Aphelion has made a name for itself as one of Australia's best producers of world-class Grenache, and this velvety, expressive single vineyard offering just goes to show why.

The fruit for this wine comes entirely from the Blewitt Springs sub-zone of McLaren Vale, grown by the Brini family with whom winemaker Rob Mack has cultivated a relationship ever since Aphelion's first vintage.

The site's sandy soils gives the wine a beautiful aromatic lift full of florals and spice, backed up with some good tannin structure.

Fermented with 100% whole bunches and briefly aged in neutral French oak.

95 points
"This might go head-to-head with the Wait Single Site Grenache for favorite wine of the lineup. For what it's worth, I believe the score would be higher with a bottle expressing its full potential."
- Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

95 points
"Very bright medium-deep red-purple colour. Pepper/spice bouquet with chocolate-oak/earth and tar aromas, the palate is full bodied and rich, with impressive tannins that firm and lengthen the palate, ending in an appetising, cleansing grip that lingers. A smashing young grenache."
- Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

95 points - "The 2023 Brini Single Site Grenache is bloody, grippy and ultra fine. This bottle is ever so slightly affected by cork taint, which is a shame, as it is contributing characters of moss and forest floor that I do not think would be present otherwise. However, the wine remains largely untouched by its closure. It is palate-staining and fine, sheer, floaty and gauzy. There's a boudoir feel to the whole thing, which is welcome. Were it not for the closure, this might go head-to-head with the Wait Single Site Grenache for favorite wine of the lineup. For what it's worth, I believe the score would be higher with a bottle expressing its full potential. 13.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax." - Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

95 points - "Very bright medium-deep red-purple colour. Pepper/spice bouquet with chocolate-oak/earth and tar aromas, the palate is full bodied and rich, with impressive tannins that firm and lengthen the palate, ending in an appetising, cleansing grip that lingers. A smashing young grenache." - Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

92 points - "From the Brini Vineyard in Blewitt Springs on sandy-based loam soils; 100% whole bunch; matured in larger, neutral oak. There’s a coolness of fruit here, though with some darker tones, sour cherry, tart redcurrant, wild strawberry, herb infused and seasoned with ground brown spices, dried mint, a bitter almond/kernel note and a hint of hay. The tannins run tight, assertive though not entirely unsympathetic, if needing time to resolve. This may polarise with its nervy, taut and sour-fruited delivery, but there’s quality to the fruit. Time will tell…" - Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)

89 points - "Grenache in the green zone. It’s edgy and tart, chewy and sinewy, pepper a strong feature with sour cherry a thing too, some cranberry, a little white strawberry as well. This takes grenache to a new zone, it’s so sour, so edgy, zingy with strong white balsamic edges, lively sure, but the cut and thrust is firm, bitter and edgy overall. Averna comes to mind. The lift of that white balsamic thing is quite confrontational, I get it, I get and drink wines like this, but the balsamic line is a theme here and drinkability is compromised to a glass, a zingy glass, over a bottle, for me. Curious." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

Aphelion

Aphelion was established by Rob Mack and Louise Rhodes with a clear vision. They had one thing on their mind, to craft: "Genuine, Authentic, Quality McLaren Vale Grenache."

A couple of vintages in and they are right on the money. They have close relationships with local growers in the Vale who provide them with excellent Grenache fruit and Rob's deft touch in the winery takes care of the rest.

The range is slowly growing, as is their family. Their investigation into their pet variety is deepening, as is their fan base. The small batches of wine that come out of the Aphelion stable should have a close eye kept on them, more often than not there's something exciting and great value in the bottle.

Winemaker Rob Mack Aphelion

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For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.

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Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.

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