2023 Smart Vineyard Clarendon Grenache, Willunga 100

• Style: Lifted, floral Grenache
• Taste: Rose petal, cranberry, bay leaf, garrigue, fine tannins
• Food: BBQ & grilled dishes; stews; roast dinners; beef; pork
• Occasion: Sunday lunch; date night; summer terrace
• Serve: 14% ABV, bone dry, chill slightly

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

A wine that whispers rather than shouts: rose petal and bay leaf lead, bright cranberry and cherry follow, with a savoury spine of garrigue and slate. Fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity give it length without weight. This is Grenache from the coolest corner of McLaren Vale, where sea breezes moderate the heat and coax out delicate aromatics instead of jammy exuberance.

The Winery — Willunga 100

Specialists in old-vine Grenache & Garnacha since 2005, Willunga 100 pioneered a fresher, more lifted approach that reveals how site shapes this sensitive variety. The Smart Vineyard block, planted by Bernard Smart's father in 1922 on the highest part of Clarendon's landscape, sits at 230 metres elevation—loamy soil over red clay, dry-grown, just one hectare shared with only one other producer. The 2023 vintage benefited from a cooler spring: smaller yields concentrated the surviving fruit with unusual refinement. Hand-harvested whole berries fermented for nine days, then gently pressed and matured mostly in stainless steel to preserve lifted character rather than oak influence. Immediately approachable yet layered enough to reward a second glass.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

At 14% ABV and bone dry, this pairs as easily with roasted duck or grilled chicken as it does with Mediterranean vegetables and soft cheeses. Equally at home on a summer terrace or alongside autumn suppers—a wine that demands finesse rather than power. Vegan-friendly and sealed with a screwcap for reliable cellaring. If you've discovered the finest expressions within our Australia selection, or are exploring the subtler side of Grenache & Garnacha worldwide, this vintage deserves your attention.