SCHILD ESTATE | Edgar Schild Reserve | Grenache | 2018
grenache

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Today we are are going to review a special and even unique wine, as this is a single-varietal grenache wine, sourced from old bush vines that were planted between 1916 (the Kleenman Vineyard) and 1926 (the Three Springs Vineyard) in the famous Barossa Valley region of South Australia – Edgar Schild Reserve Grenache 2018 by Schild Estate. Until recently, grenache has been ignored in much of the world, even though it is the grape variety that is responsible for two of the world’s more famous red wines: Châteauneuf-du-Pape and a more recent star Priorat. The main two reasons of the world’s ignorance towards this grape variety was that grenache tends to be over-productive when poorly managed and hence, it was widely planted in hot regions where cheap bulk wine was the main target (mostly in northern Spain, where it is known as garnacha), in fact it was the second most planted grape variety in the world after the infamous airén. But, if carefully managed, garnacha can produce very intense, vibrant and expressive red wines, which was showcased by the famous Priorat wines, made of grapes that are sourced from old bush grenache vines. With its upright growth and strong, sturdy trunk, grenache is well suited to being grown as a water-seeking bush vine in hot and windy regions. Its only disadvantage being its predilection to set relatively little fruit, which, of course, means all the more flavour in the grapes that remain. This wine here is a textbook, old bush grenache wine from a hot climate, aged for 12 months (new oak) and for 14 months (seasoned oak) in 600-litre french oak puncheons. That said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
colour: pale garnet color
clarity: hazy copper shades

//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced & earthy
fruit profile: red fruits
__red fruits: dried red cherry | dried cranberry | dried red plum | redcurrant | goji berry
fruit character: dried

//Flavor
non fruit: herbal | spice | oak | savory | earthy
__herbal: dried herbs | rosemary | wormwood | hints of mint
__spice: red pepper | cloves | nutmeg | thyme
__oak: sun-dried oakwood | rooibos tea | sweet tobacco
__savory: old leather | iron | veal | cured meat | brown olive
__earthy: clay | loam | marl
primary layer: fruity–savory

//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: high
tannin: medium+
__grip: ripe
balance: good
__dominant: alcohol
body: supple | medium

//Taste
fruit profile: red fruits
fruit character: dried
non fruit: spice & herbs
finish: long
aftertaste: bitter–seedy

//Scoring
SCHILD ESTATE | Edgar Schild Reserve | Grenache | 2018
variety: grenache
country: Australia
region: Barossa Valley
rating: 94.7

//Conclusion
maturity: in its prime | drink now or within the next 2 years
verdict: great | a legendary wine

//Prediction
predicted RP rating: 91

//RP Rating
actual RP rating: ?

The 2017 Edgar Schild Reserve Old Bush Vines Grenache is much deeper, richer and more savory than the 2016 edition, with velvety tannins and black cherry fruit supported by dried spices and aromatic herbs. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.

//All Ratings
The critics’ rating distribution: 93
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This is definitely a great wine of Australia and, with a total of 94.7 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Verdict: this is a supple but firm and rich grenache wine, with a grippy palate and an expressive nose. The wine is right there, at the peak of its form, therefore we would recommend to drink it sooner rather than later, as we firmly believe that it is always better to drink a wine a year too soon than a day too late. On the nose it brings a mixture of dried red fruits and some very nuanced, dried herbs notes in the foreground, followed by an earthy-savory background and a very noble, spicy-oaky layer in between the two. On the palate the wine delivers mouth-watering acidity, ripe and seedy tannins and a firm touch of alcoholic warmth that is showing through on the mouthfeel, which evolves nicely into a bitter-seedy aftertaste. All in all, this is a quite complex and well structured grenache wine that is mixing power with finesse. Judging by the wine’s structure and those nuanced dried herbs flavours both, on the nose and on the palate, we would suggest to pair this wine with a peppercorn filet mignon steak or some duck breast. Enjoy!

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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.