d’Arenberg Derelict Vineyard Grenache

Description

d’Arenberg Derelict Vineyard Grenache is a single vineyard wine made with grapes grown in the McLaren Vale wine-growing region.

D’Arenberg is one most iconic of Australian wineries and certainly one of the famous in the McLaren Vale wine-growing region. The company was founded by Cornish-born, Joseph Osborn. Osborn’s parents emigrated to Australia in the 1850s and Joseph went on to become a well-known Australian Rules footballer, co-founding Norwood Football Club along the way. Eventually he would become a partner in Thomas Hardy Limited, a local politician and became involved in horse racing before buying what would become the d’Arenberg estate in 1912. Today the estate is in the hands of the fourth generation, winemaker Chester Osborne. The company is known for their iconic red striped label and quirky wine names such as Dead Arm, Laughing Magpie and Stump Jump.

The estate is famous for its top quality, premium red wines made from classic Australian grape varieties like Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache; however, they also have some more unusual planting of Mediterranean and Rhone varieties including Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Vermentino, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier. The McLaren vale, located some 45 minutes south of Adelaide is perfect for grape growing with a Mediterranean climate, huge diversity of soil types and proximity to the ocean with the resultant cooling sea breezes. Minimal intervention is the keyword in the winery where the individual vineyard site’s character is allowed to shine through. Classic vinification methods are used such as open top vat fermentation, foot treading and basket pressing. All d’Arenberg estate owned and leased vineyards are NASAA Certified for organic and biodynamic processes. d’Arenberg are members of Australia’s First Families of Wine.

Some years ago Chester Osborn, sought out additional premium Grenache fruit from McLaren Vale to meet the high demand for d’Arenberg’s Grenache-based wines. Amongst others, a particular vineyard planted over thirty years ago with appeared appeared promising. His search unveiled a number of old bush vine and poorly maintained trellised vineyards in various states of disrepair. Hence the the inspiration behind naming this wine “Derelict Vineyard”.

The exceptionally low-yielding Grenache vines for the d’Arenberg Derelict Vineyard are harvested late in vintage. Small batches of grapes are gently crushed and then transferred to five tonne headed down open fermenters. These batches remain separate until final blending. Foot treading is undertaken two thirds of the way through fermentation. The wine is then basket pressed and transferred to a mixture of old French and American oak barriques to complete fermentation. The barrel ferments are aged on lees, and there is no racking until final blending. d’Arenberg Derelict Vineyard Grenache does not undertake fining or filtration prior to bottling.

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.