2018 Old Bush Vine Grenache

2018 Old Bush Vine Grenache

Reillys 1919 Block is the oldest site within our estate vineyards and one of the oldest within the Clare Valley wine region. The site requires expert viticultural management to ensure ongoing productivity and fruit quality. Cropping is naturally low yield for old vines and this site is no exception with average yields of 1.5T per acre. These old vines are dry grown and require no irrigation apart from natural rainfall, resulting in deep, strong roots that allow the plant to access deeper moisture and more diverse nutrients and minerals.

These vines are steady and reliable and less likely to affected by adverse weather conditions, consistently producing small yields of top-quality fruit year after year. The grapes have concentrated flavours, balanced acidity, and are hand-picked at optimal ripeness.

Hand-picking is required as the vines are not trellised like other grape varieties, instead, they grow as small, low bushes. After handpicking, traditional winemaking methods of open fermentation, hand plunging, and gentle pressing are used to extract maximum flavour and colour from the grapes.

Maturation in French oak hogsheads for 24 months allows flavour and texture development whilst the wine continues to develop in the bottle with careful cellaring for up to 10 years. 

This wine shows sweet lifted aromas of dark fruit, pepper, and liquorice with flavours of cherry, blackberry, and chocolate. Finishing with a silky mouthfeel, firm tannins, and great persistence on the palate.

THE STORY OF REILLYS OLD BUSHVINE GRENACHE VINEYARD

These vines were planted in 1919 by a soldier who returned from WW1 and was allocated this land by the government as part of the Soldier Settlement Scheme. 

This scheme was introduced to repatriate and compensate returned servicemen by allocating parcels of agricultural land throughout Australia.

Being bush vines, they grow low to the ground and are not trellised like many other grape varieties. The fruit is hand-picked not only to ensure the most premium fruit is used, but also because the modern fruit picking machines cannot effectively collect the fruit from these bush vines. Find out more about our vineyards...

CLICK HERE for a great read from independent wine journalist Dan Traucki about his recent visit to our winery and cellar door, and about the centenary of our Old Bush Vine Grenache vineyard!

 

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

BRONZE MEDAL ~ Clare Valley Wine Show 2023

BRONZE MEDAL ~ Rutherglen Wine Show 2024

 

PAST VINTAGE AWARDS & ACCOLADES

2016

GOLD MEDAL - 2019 Global Grenache Masters, Drinks Business UK

Dan Traucki, https://www.facebook.com/dan.traucki, 25th Aug 2020
"​Reillys Wines 2016 #clarevalley 'OLD BUSH VINE' #grenache -vineyard planted in 1919!!-lovely lifted aromas of blackberries, cherries & pepper, a sensationally tight tasty palate with lashings of flavour including a hint of savouriness & dry tight tannins on the finish. Tremendous cellaring potential - A REAL KEEPER"

2013

4 STARS - Winestate Magazine, March/April 2017

"A big old school style with mature meaty aromas and a powerful but elegant red/black fruit flavours on the well-structured palate."

2012

SILVER MEDAL ~ 2015 Cairns Show Wine Awards

91 POINTS ~ Josh Raynolds (USA), www.vinous.com, March 2016
“Bright ruby. Highly fragrant, spice-accented blackberry and cherry aromas are complicated by sexy floral pastille and allspice qualities, with white pepper and licorice nuances emerging slowly. Seamless, broad, and sweet in the mouth, offering supple red and blue fruit preserve flavors and a hint of candied flowers. Closes juicy and very long, with harmonious tannins and resonating spiciness.”

Wine Selector Magazine, Autumn 2016
“Reillys believe in minimal winemaking intervention, allowing the fruit to shine. Developing cedar and cassis lift over confectionary and liquorice aromas lead to a plush, dense and rich palate with a lovely core of blackberry, mulberry and prune-like fruit with secondary cedar notes and refreshing acidity.”

Ross Noble, The Courier, Wed 24th June 2015
"Handpicked and open fermented before maturation in French and American oak for two years, it is a hearty red with aromas of dark berry fruits and spice leading to luscious, lingering flavours of cherry and chocolate. Try it with lasagne." 

TASTING NOTES

2018  |  2016  |  2014  |  2013  |  2012  |  2009  |  2008  |  2007  |  2006  |  2005  |  2004