2023 Sandalford 1840 Grenache
Medium bodied, fleshy fruits, flavoursome and textural on the palate. Well balanced with soft acidity which is carried by fine grain tannin leading to a long and sustained finish. A wine best enjoyed lightly chilled whilst young, fresh and vibrant.
Winemaker comments
Winemaker Notes
Handpicked in mid-March, the fruit was destemmed to small open fermenters, cold soaked for four days, and then inoculated with a selected yeast isolate. The must was treated by pumping over twice daily during fermentation before pressing off to tank once the desired colour, flavour and tannin extract was achieved. After the completion of primary fermentation, the wine was inoculated for Malolactic Fermentation (MLF), then transferred into seasoned French oak barriques for six months maturation on lees prior to blending and bottling.
Meet the maker
By the time I turned 18, I had become fascinated with wine. I was keen to learn as much about wine as I could and I received some great advice: to work in the industry before committing to any tertiary study....
Continue Reading > I was lucky enough to get my start at the cellars at Houghton Wines, here in the Swan Valley. I loved it, and it was the beginning of a career which was to eventually see me spend 20 years with Houghton’s. But first, I wanted to discover what traditional winemaking was like in the northern hemisphere. I took myself off to Burgundy, France, where I worked several vintages learning as much as I could about the craft of winemaking from some the best in the business. Returning to Australia I continued my career, picking up a few awards in the process of learning more and more about winemaking and achieving Bachelor of Applied Science and Oenology at Charles Sturt University, NSW. I was awarded the inaugural Gourmet Traveler Young Winemaker of the Year 2001, James Halliday’s Winemaker of the year in 2009, Winemaker of the Year in Ray Jordan's 2017 Annual West Australian Wine Guide, and I’ve judged extensively at capital city and regional wine shows. Australia makes some amazing world class wines! I’ve been fortunate to be Senior Winemaker at Sandalford Wines since March 2021 and I’m delighted every day by our estates’ old vines, the passion of the viticulture team here, and the outcomes we are able to achieve each vintage.
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Continue Reading > I was lucky enough to get my start at the cellars at Houghton Wines, here in the Swan Valley. I loved it, and it was the beginning of a career which was to eventually see me spend 20 years with Houghton’s. But first, I wanted to discover what traditional winemaking was like in the northern hemisphere. I took myself off to Burgundy, France, where I worked several vintages learning as much as I could about the craft of winemaking from some the best in the business. Returning to Australia I continued my career, picking up a few awards in the process of learning more and more about winemaking and achieving Bachelor of Applied Science and Oenology at Charles Sturt University, NSW. I was awarded the inaugural Gourmet Traveler Young Winemaker of the Year 2001, James Halliday’s Winemaker of the year in 2009, Winemaker of the Year in Ray Jordan's 2017 Annual West Australian Wine Guide, and I’ve judged extensively at capital city and regional wine shows. Australia makes some amazing world class wines! I’ve been fortunate to be Senior Winemaker at Sandalford Wines since March 2021 and I’m delighted every day by our estates’ old vines, the passion of the viticulture team here, and the outcomes we are able to achieve each vintage.
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Tasting notes
Varietals
Varietal
Grenache
Colour
Other Notes
Bright garnet red with youthful ruby hues
Nose
Production
Aromas of raspberry, maraschino cherry, pomegranate, wild mint and musk with hints of nutmeg, wood spice and earthy notes adding complexity and appeal.
Palate
Tasting Note
Medium bodied, fleshy fruits, flavoursome and textural on the palate. Well balanced with soft acidity which is carried by fine grain tannin leading to a long and sustained finish. A wine best enjoyed lightly chilled whilst young, fresh and vibrant.
Vintage Conditions
Vineyard Notes
The spring rainfall preceding the 2023 vintage was the second highest on record in Western Australia. Additionally, the maximum temperatures for spring were very much below average for most of the south west of the state. The persistent rainfall and cool conditions during the spring season promoted lush, healthy canopies with moderate crop levels. The Summer arrived with some timely warm weather in December and January to get things going in the vineyard. It is fair to say that the 2023 seasonal conditions have delivered one of the highest quality vintages seen in the Swan Valley for well over a decade.
