The 2018 Turkey Flat Grenache is a wine that shows beautiful floral and spiced aromatics, bright fruit that fills out into more complex spiced and savoury characteristics, with strong tannins that will ensure longevity.
"Predominantly sourced from estate vines planted over 100 years ago. It's been treated with total respect in the winery, matured in used oak without any additions other than SO2. Extraordinary value for a wine with decades ahead."
97 Points - James Halliday, Hallidays Wine Companion, August 2020
"When I taste quite a few wines (blind) in one day, I often write ‘COME BACK’ in a cell next to the note in my spreadsheet. Well, often I mean to, but get distracted. This is one of those.
Sweet brown spices, liquorice, tea leaf, blackberry, raspberry. Medium bodied, firm grained almost Nebbiolo tannin, savoury flavours, certainly tea and bergamot, red and black fruits. Structure and interest. Quite a different style here. Seems like the exuberance of Barossa Grenache has been tamed to deliver a more adult expression? Very nice."
94 Points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, July 2019, Drink: 2020 - 2030
Turkey Flat has more than 25 years experience in making Grenache. This older variety for South Australia has a natural home in the Barossa, although respect for the variety as a maker of fine wine has only recently been achieved. It has been an important part of the Turkey Flat range since 1992.
The 2018 growing season was long, hot and dry leading to a slightly early, low yielding vintage. The wines from the 2018 vintage are fruit rich, well coloured and of substance. The vintage will be remembered for producing wines that reflect the generosity for which has made the Barossa famous and a reminder of just how well Grenache flourishes in hardy conditions.
Mark Bulman has made Grenache his signature varietal after taking over full control of winemaking at Turkey Flat in 2010. Under his direction this remains respectful to our past tradition of making Grenache into a fine wine, while moving seamlessly into a more refined, contemporary style. The wine was fermented with 15% whole bunch with half the remaining stems also included in the ferment. Maturation took place in a combination of neutral oak Foudre and neutral oak puncheons.
