2013 Greenock Creek Cornerstone Grenache
Philip White 94++ Points
"Typical of the ancient Grenache block on Roennfeldt Road, this vintage is really a very pretty thing to sniff. The top notes are all cute baby flesh and lollyshop, with wafts of musk, raspberry, banana ester, and even eau-de-cologne mint after you've given it a jolly good airing. Fruits? Bittersweet morello cherry, raspberry and that comforting, creamy aroma of Lucas' pawpaw ointment. Along similar creamy lines, it also smells a bit like newly-painted leather, a character I suspect will turn a little harnessy with some proper age. So. Good start. Roll it around the mouth. Fresh, it skips over the palate, just nicely viscous, but more slender and tight than that juvenile bouquet would suggest. It's racy and lithe and quite a lot more serious in intent than I expected. As it gets air, like over three or four days without decanting, the very fine-grained tannins take on the dusty nature of the old tea tin, a little like the white pepper canister character of the 2010. The alcohol isn't overt, but if you're not having it with the appropriate food - peking duck is just perfect - you'll notice a little sexy heat in your exhalation. A squish of soft ash-dipped goat cheese on rye toast will sort that out if a duck doesn't fly past while you're trying to shoot a cloud. I want to drink this in five years, but it's a knockout now, especially if you give it a proper decanting."
Philip White 94++ Points
"Typical of the ancient Grenache block on Roennfeldt Road, this vintage is really a very pretty thing to sniff. The top notes are all cute baby flesh and lollyshop, with wafts of musk, raspberry, banana ester, and even eau-de-cologne mint after you've given it a jolly good airing. Fruits? Bittersweet morello cherry, raspberry and that comforting, creamy aroma of Lucas' pawpaw ointment. Along similar creamy lines, it also smells a bit like newly-painted leather, a character I suspect will turn a little harnessy with some proper age. So. Good start. Roll it around the mouth. Fresh, it skips over the palate, just nicely viscous, but more slender and tight than that juvenile bouquet would suggest. It's racy and lithe and quite a lot more serious in intent than I expected. As it gets air, like over three or four days without decanting, the very fine-grained tannins take on the dusty nature of the old tea tin, a little like the white pepper canister character of the 2010. The alcohol isn't overt, but if you're not having it with the appropriate food - peking duck is just perfect - you'll notice a little sexy heat in your exhalation. A squish of soft ash-dipped goat cheese on rye toast will sort that out if a duck doesn't fly past while you're trying to shoot a cloud. I want to drink this in five years, but it's a knockout now, especially if you give it a proper decanting."
Philip White 94++ Points
"Typical of the ancient Grenache block on Roennfeldt Road, this vintage is really a very pretty thing to sniff. The top notes are all cute baby flesh and lollyshop, with wafts of musk, raspberry, banana ester, and even eau-de-cologne mint after you've given it a jolly good airing. Fruits? Bittersweet morello cherry, raspberry and that comforting, creamy aroma of Lucas' pawpaw ointment. Along similar creamy lines, it also smells a bit like newly-painted leather, a character I suspect will turn a little harnessy with some proper age. So. Good start. Roll it around the mouth. Fresh, it skips over the palate, just nicely viscous, but more slender and tight than that juvenile bouquet would suggest. It's racy and lithe and quite a lot more serious in intent than I expected. As it gets air, like over three or four days without decanting, the very fine-grained tannins take on the dusty nature of the old tea tin, a little like the white pepper canister character of the 2010. The alcohol isn't overt, but if you're not having it with the appropriate food - peking duck is just perfect - you'll notice a little sexy heat in your exhalation. A squish of soft ash-dipped goat cheese on rye toast will sort that out if a duck doesn't fly past while you're trying to shoot a cloud. I want to drink this in five years, but it's a knockout now, especially if you give it a proper decanting."
