Clarendon Hills Domaine Clarendon Grenache 2023 is an old vine Grenache from Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, made from declassified fruit from Clarendon Hills’ three single site Grenache vineyards. The 2023 La Niña vintage — the best of three consecutive cool seasons — has produced a wine of exceptional aromatic lift and precision, with lavender, rose, cherry, cranberry, blood orange and forest berry on a flowing palate of bright acidity and fine talcum tannin. Awarded 93 points by both James Suckling and the Wine Companion, and described by Wine Advocate’s Erin Larkin as ‘a whole lot of wine for the money’.
Nose
Lavender, rose, cherry, cranberry, blood orange and raspberry. Juicy, fresh and florally expressive with an uncanny precociousness.
Palate
Flowing and bright with forest berry flavours, bright acidity and fine talcum tannin. Two distinct stories — an intense, savoury aromatic profile and a succulent, vividly red and purple fruit palate. Decanting recommended to allow both to coalesce.
Reviews & Scores
93/100 — James Suckling (Ryan Montgomery, June 2025)
“Perfumed aromas of blackberries, mulberry bush, dark chocolate and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and bright acidity, showing pomegranate, raspberry purée and fresh herbs. Great value. Drink or hold.”
93/100 — Wine Companion (Marcus Ellis)
“The entry level, if you will, made from declassified fruit/wine from the three proprietary Blewitt Springs sites. The trajectory here is for brighter styles, though the graph curve is gradual. The house style remains, and there is no harm in that, given its history. Expect a deeply red-fruited, slightly meaty style, moody with sultry florals, black cherry, dried herbs and warmed whole brown spices. It’s a fine introduction to the Clarendon Hills oeuvre, and at a more than fair tariff.”
Wine Advocate — Erin Larkin
“The 2023 Domaine Clarendon Grenache leads with a bouquet that is stubbornly resisting any alignment with the palate. There are two stories in this glass: one — the first — is told by the aromas: black, tarry, intense peat, licorice, blackstrap, biltong and crushed rocks, even a hint of crushed ant. The second story is told by the fruit in the mouth: succulent, vividly red and purple, compote in composure, saturating and palate staining. One assumes that for these two aspects of the wine to come together, you must decant it. Already it is starting to coalesce, but it has been 20 minutes in the glass. This is a powerful, inky rendition of this wine — and one not to be taken lightly. This is a whole lot of wine for the money.”
Winemaking
Hand-picked. 40% whole berry, 100% destemmed, wild yeast fermentation. Gently pressed and returned to barrel. 18 months in 4–10 year old tightly grained French oak. Bottled without fining or filtration. Closure: DIAM.
Vineyard & Region
Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. 12km north-east of McLaren Vale town centre. Deep sandy soils over a mineral-rich subterranean layer of ironstone and quartz. Some of the oldest old vine Grenache plantations in the world. 6km proximity to the Great Southern Ocean contributes natural freshness and acidity.
Vintage Conditions
The 2023 was the third La Niña growing cycle in a row and the best of the trio. No 40°C day was recorded across summer. Full maturity arrived 3–4 weeks later than the already late 2022 vintage, with perfect sunny 21°C autumn days and very cool nights producing exquisite fruit with preserved acidity and remarkable floral aromas.
Cellaring
Drink from 2026 to 2031. Does not require extended cellaring but will reward 3–5 years in bottle.
