The Advertiser 'Top 100 Wines' (94 points)
The Herald Sun 'Top 100 Wines'
Light cerise in colour with youthful violet hues, medium bodied in style and food friendly. Aromatic fruit of blood plums and bright red cherries coat the palate with a delicate touch of cinnamon and white pepper spice, supple yet textural... all describe The OCTOgenarian. Released young to capture the vibrant berry fruits. Cellaring will also be rewarded for 4 to 6 years as the secondary characters evolve in bottle while preserved by the alcohol.
Made traditionally from low cropping Grenache grapes, the addition of 10% Tempranillo for savoury tannins, plus a splash of soft Shiraz and a hint of leafy Cabernet Sauvignon adds spice and complexity. The attractive berry flavours of Grenache are lengthened and enhanced by these varieties, without any strong oak influence.
Grenache often matches well with pasta dishes, while the Tempranillo and spice can set off dishes like Seafood Paella, packed full of fresh seafood, saffron and chorizo.
Tony Love, The Advertiser 'Top 100 Wines': "Taking grenache blends into relatively new territory in Australia, this is a beautifully weighted wine with gorgeous fragrant spices to begin and a stylish carriage of juicy flavours, the addition of tempranillo creating a smoothness and drinkable appeal. This wine begs to be looked at again and again."
For decades winemaker Scott Collett and his neighbours tended to the frugal Grenache vines on sandy soils at Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. Commonly referred to as 80 year old vines, or “Perpetual Octogenarians”, their pedigree of quality became more evident over the decades. When the opportunity arose to become the next custodians of more of these meagre cropping, gnarly vines, the Collett family embraced them in 1988. They nurture these rarely respected Octogenarians and enjoy their lasting characters. Long live OCTO!
Winemakers: Scott Collett & Ben Glaetzer.
