Tasting Notes for Kalleske Old Vine Grenache from the Winery

Kalleske Old Vine Grenache is made from a low yielding, single vineyard planted in 1935 on our Kalleske estate. Situated on the outskirts of Greenock in the North-Western Barossa Valley, the Kalleske’s have been farming this property for over 160 years and the vineyard is now tended by sixth and seventh generation family members.

Following the picking of these dry-grown Grenache grapes, they were fermented in open fermenters and then gently pressed in our estate winery. The wine was matured in seasoned oak hogsheads giving a complex Grenache wine, which will benefit from cellaring.

Tasting Notes

Colour: 2023 Old Vine Grenache is deep maroon in colour.

Aroma:The aromatics are vivid with lifted notes of sweet spice, musk, raspberry jam, flower garden, dried fruit medley, and a trace of choc mint.

Palate: The richly flavoured palate is generous with varietal red, blue and black fruits all evident.  Naturally soft tannins provide framework for the plush fruit, adding a pleasant chewiness without intruding.  Seasoned oak maturation is courteous to the incredible old vine dry-grown fruit intensity.  Extremely lengthy to finish, the varietal purity almost endless.  Harmonious throughout, stylish fruit is the hallmark of this wine.

Recommended Drinking: This distinguished Grenache drinks well now but can equally be cellared for 5-10 years.

Growing Season

Vintage 2023 has produced exceptional wines.  It was the longest and latest on record, stretching from mid-March to early-May.  The vines got off to a superb start with a wet and cool Spring providing plenty of sub-soil moisture for the growing season ahead.  Summer typically brought average temperatures and was generally dry with occasional finite rain.  The vines were in fantastic condition for slow and steady ripening into Autumn with its mild days, cool nights, and isolated light rain.  Yields from 2023 are good and quality is excellent.

Vineyard

Old Vine Grenache is made from a vineyard planted in 1935 as bush vines on the Kalleske farm.  The vineyard soil is shallow sand with light clay subsoil and the grapes are entirely dry-grown ensuring intensely flavoured fruit.

Winemaking 

Following picking on May 3rd, grapes were destemmed into an open-top fermenter.  The must was fermented using native yeast and the fermenting juice was pumped over twice daily for flavour and colour extraction for the 8-day fermentation.  The must was then traditionally pressed and filled to barrel.  The wine was matured in seasoned American and French oak hogsheads for a year prior to bottling.

(SKU: KA_OVG_CV)