The Vanguardist range represents the epitome of what we are about. Pushing the realms of standard winemaking to deliver intrigue, excitement and full recognition of this special and distinct terroir. Ultimate dedication to the craft of viticulture and winemaking, encapsulated in a bottle – through our lens.

SINGLE SITE: GRENACHE FROM RENDE VINEYARD, BLEWITT SPRINGS, MCLAREN VALE

THE 2024 VINTAGE MARKS THE TENTH RELEASE OF THE ‘V’ GRENACHE FROM THIS SINGLE SITE, RENDE VINEYARD


VINEYARD:
The Grenache originates from the renowned "Silver Sands" vineyard in Blewitt Springs, South Australia. Planted over 55 years ago by Robert Rende and his father, Michael, this vineyard is considered a hidden gem in the region. The vineyard's viticulture is now expertly managed by Michael J. Corbett, whose focus on quality and sustainability continues to elevate the wine’s reputation and ensure the vineyard's longevity.

VINTAGE:
The season began with unsettled conditions, delivering significant rainfall and strong winds through flowering. As the season progressed, conditions shifted dramatically, turning dry and warm, with a notable February heatwave tightening the harvest window and intensifying fruit concentration.

Despite these challenges, the vintage has delivered wines with structure, depth, and impressive length, with Rhône varieties once again proving their ability to endure and excel.

HARVEST:
Hand harvested across multiple picks on 4, 10, and 14 March, the 2024 crop saw yields reduced from 2023, averaging around 23hL/ha — below the long-term average.

VINIFICATION:
Approximately two-thirds of the fruit was retained as whole bunches and underwent our signature gentle fermentation over an average of five weeks. The wine was then matured for 17 months in two 22HL Slavonian Oak Foudre, these large format vessels now seven years old. It remained in barrel through élevage and a second winter, before being racked in early spring in preparation for bottling in December.

PROFILE:
Guided by the skilled hand of Michael J Corbett, this Grenache consistently expresses its terroir, delivering an elegant balance of bright acidity, fine-grained silky tannins, lifted red-fruit vibrancy, and distinctive minerality.

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Closure: DIAM Origine 30 
FS02: at bottling 28ppm
TSO2: 69ppm
pH: 3.58
TA: 5.8g/L
Alcohol: 13.9%
Bottle when empty: 450g

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THE WINE FRONT

This is matured in two 22HL Slavonian foudre, which are now seven years old. Two thirds whole bunch. From the Rende Vineyard in Blewitt Springs, which is now over 55 years old. This is a lighter, more frisky expression of Vanguardist Grenache, in the way of 2023, though with a bit more oomph, but less richness, tannin and stuffing than, say, 2019 and 2021. Not a comment on quality, more a guide to style.

Raspberry, cherry, almond, spice, slight liquorice richness, dried roses. Medium-bodied, spicy, cherry and raspberry, savoury and gently earthy, a fine grainy richness to tannin, a cranberry freshness to acidity, with a nutty strawberry and spice finish of excellent length. Wonderful finesse and perfume here. Give it a couple more years to come up.

96 POINTS
GARY WALSH

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HALLIDAY
The Vanguardist calling card, the defining wine. Deeply savoury and intense, layered, detailed, chiselled, seriously complex. The vintage conditions were a little easier in '24 than '23, with a little more warmth, but this continues the Vanguardist upward trajectory with a theme of transparency, elegance and refined detail. Dehydrated cranberry and goji, barberry, amaro herbs and spicing, dried citrus peel, rye, caraway, pumpernickel, sun-warmed terracotta, pressed wildflowers. A sour-fruited tension to flavour and structure runs through it. It’s a wine that is so captivating on the nose, so intense and layered, that it is almost enough as is. But the palate, the chewy, pithy, silty, sandy tannins, the tamarind acidity, the haunting persistence … Another beautifully beguiling world-class grenache from Mr Corbett. Bravo.

97+ POINTS
MARCUS ELLIS