Reillys Dry Land Old Bush Vine Grenache 2016

Reillys Wines, a proudly South Australian owned and operated winery since 1993 which specialise in producing premium red and white wines sourced from our estate vineyards in the Clare Valley.

The name Reillys stems from our rich history dating back to 1856 when Irish shoemaker Hugh Reilly settled in the township of Mintaro, building his home 'Reilly's Cottage' from the local slate.

Justin & Julie Ardill With a background in pharmacy and medicine, owner and winemaker Justin Ardill saw an opportunity to indulge his passion for wine by purchasing a small parcel of 12 acres of vineyards in Watervale in 1993. Along with these vineyards, he and wife Julie purchased a humble cottage to be their cellar door and winery on the main street of Mintaro known simply as Reilly’s Cottage. 

It is this building and its 1856 owner Hugh Reilly that inspired the wine label ‘Reillys Wines’. Beginning in 1994 with 10T of fruit, their first wines were created. Of this, 3.6T of Old Bushvine Grenache was crushed, open fermented and basket pressed by hand by Justin and Julie on the verandah of Reillys Cottage. The first vintage yielded 300 dozen of each of Riesling, Shiraz and Old Bushvine Grenache.

919 Block is the oldest site within the 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 which 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 yeilds 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 hand picking, traditional wine making 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. 

Deep dark red in colour with black tinged edges and a dark red hue. Lavish dark raspberry, ripe plum and liquorice aromas pour out of the glass with vanillin oak, hints of mocha and spicy pepper notes ensuing. Supplely textured rich dark raspberry and liquorice flavours are backed by a rigid tannin structure and bright acidity with some vanillin confectionary, earth and spicy pepper characters ensuing. Excellent concentration with a long lush yet structured finish.

Drink now or cellar till 2028.

Alcohol Level : 15.5%

Awards

95 points Winespider

GOLD MEDAL, The Global Grenache Masters 2019