After a horror start to the year, it is pleasing to know that the Yangarra team are regrouping and resetting their working lives. This release evokes the winemaking philosophies and ambitions of winemaker Peter Fraser, while highlighting loyalty and technical flair. High Sands Grenache, based on 1946-plantings, has enjoyed a meteoric rise within Australia’s fine wine scene, largely because the wines are unique, singular and unforced in style. But balancing innovation with classicism is a very challenging task. While I still think the style is a work in progress, the 2024 High Sands Grenache is exemplary and deserves to be recognised as a highwater mark for the series.
2024 Ovitelli Grenache is lighter in colour but no less impactful. Typically colour foreshadows expectations, but instead of something simple, the wine was intriguingly complex, expansive and interesting. 2024 Hickinbotham Grenache was more classic in style and will have much broader appeal. Considering the estate’s track record, Yangarra has forged an impressive niche with grenache by pushing boundaries and creating conversations. It should come as no surprise if opinions are quite diverse.
The 2024 Kings Wood and 2023 Iron heart shirazes show plenty of presence with their density and firm textures. They are delicious to drink but should be cellared for a little while to let the elements fold.
The 2024 Ovitelli Blanc and Roux Beauté Rousanne – all based on Rhône varieties – are idiosyncratic and reflective of hugely inquiring minds and a desire to make something different. They are very textural styles which in my view impacts on flow. Nonetheless they are brilliantly individual and flavourful.
…the 2024 High Sands Grenache is exemplary and deserves to be recognised as a highwater mark for the series.
2024 Yangarra Ovitelli Blanc, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Pale medium colour. Fresh lemon curd, apricot grilled nut, touch herbal aromas with hints of crème brulée. Round and supple with ample long curd, nectarine, apricot flavours, superb mid plate viscosity and fresh linear/ crystalline acidity. Marzipan, crème brulée, lemon glacé, tobacco leaf at the finish. Off-piste style with skin contact characters bringing another dimension. 31% grenache gris 28% grenache blanc 22% clairette, 19% rousanne. Serve cold if drinking as an aperitif. Drink now – keep for a while. 13.5% alc 93 points
2024 Yangarra Roux Beauté Roussanne, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Pale medium colour. Apricot, nectarine, lemon curd, caramel/ touch tobacco leaf aromas with star anise notes. Generously concentrated lemon glacé, apricot, nectarine, honey flavours, plentiful slinky/ chalky textures, attractive mid-palate viscosity and underlying bittersweet notes. A very textural and punchy finish with the acidity, phenolics and alcohol, pushing the fruit to the bitter end. A standout wine albeit different and confronting. Drink now – keep for a while. 14% alc 93+ points
2024 Yangarra High Sands Grenache, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Medium crimson. Fresh pure raspberry, red cherry Campari aromas with hints of minerals and bush garrigue. Buoyant raspberry pastille, red cherry, touch apricot fruits, fine looseknit chalky textures, lovely mid plate richness and underlying mineral acidity. Finishes crisp and fruit sweet with aniseed notes. Lovely depth, richness of flavour and energy. Very expressive and flavourful. Drink now – 2034 14% alc 96 points
2024 Yangarra Hickinbotham Grenache, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Light medium crimson. Fragrant red cherry camomile aromas with chalky mineral notes. Supple and sweet fruited with pure red cherry, red currant fruits, fine slinky/ lacy textures and fresh long mineral acidity. A chalky plume at the finish with seductive ripe red berry fruits. Gentler and more classic than the Ovitelli. Drink now – 2030 14% alc 93 points
2024 Yangarra King’s Wood Shiraz, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Deep crimson. Fresh blackberry, brambly aromas with panforte/ hint sappy notes. Richly flavoured, inky deep and muscular with ample blackberry, panforte, dark chocolate flavours, dense grippy firm tannins, some roasted walnut / chinotto complexity and underlying sappy notes. Ferruginous at the finish. Generous and impactful with a claret-like structure. Should unravel and fold with time. Drink 2028 – 2042 13.5% alc 93 points
2023 Yangarra Iron Heart Shiraz, McLaren Vale – South Australia
Deep crimson. Intense black cherry blackberry, praline flinty aromas. Richly concentrated with plentiful blackberry, black cherry, dark chocolate fruits, dense gravelly textures, very good mid palate density and underlying roasted chestnut notes. Finishes chocolaty and long with flinty black pepper notes. A touch reductive at first. Best to decant before serving to allow the wine to reveal its beauty. Drink 2028 – 2045 13.5% alc 94 points
