Utopos Grenache 2021

We asked Kym to tell us about the 2021 Utopos Grenache – “We elected to bottle this wine early in its life to maintain some of that beautiful primary fragrance that is the hallmark of Barossa Grenache and believed that the palate had enough density and complexity to support the early bottling. The Grenache planting sits on perhaps the warmest and leanest part of the vineyard yet still ripens quite slowly and maintains a very balanced chemistry. The wine is medium bodied with supportive tannin and good acidity and requires a good amount of decant time to show its full expression. Matured in mainly 2nd and 3rd use 300 and 500L tight grained French oak there is a little spicy oak influence evident but it by no means overpowers the wine. This is a wine that will definitely benefit from a few more years in the bottle. 2021 Was a wonderful vintage. Almost perfect conditions throughout – Reasonable winter rains, mild warm days, cool nights, a few light rain events at well-timed intervals. An ideal season which resulted in a very calm and easy harvest with fruit ripening slowly and evenly and maintaining an excellent chemistry.”

97+ Points - Stuart McCloskey “I was a tad concerned this would not be ready to bottle, yet it’s pitched beautifully and reinforces how great the 2021 Aussie vintage is shaping up. The perfume unfolds beautifully with black raspberry, thyme, spice, sandalwood and orange peel. Give it a few years and the bouquet will be an absolute ripper. Texturally, this is very ‘Utopos’ – silken, fleshy, succulent with the fruit flowing in ribbons of silk. The flavours are long, and the suede-like tannins provide shape. Medium-bodied with lots of brightness – raspberry, black cherry and Campari. An outstanding expression of Grenache although, a few years in the bottle will provide greater interest and complexity. For now, this is downright delicious and a serious bottling (far from those wimpish Grenache bottlings). Decant for 2-3 hours. Drinking now to 2030. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front "Full-flavoured grenache. This really aims to have some impact. Concentrated raspberry, red licorice, earth, beefstock and floral characters come ribbed with lines of strong tannin. It has a weighty seriousness about it and yet it doesn’t feel overdone; it feels rock solid, in a fluid way. Impressive wine."