Yalumba The Tri Centenary Grenache Barossa Valley 2019 750ml
Description
Yalumba’s Tri-Centenary Grenache represents a celebration of ancient vines and the visionary planting decisions made over a century ago. These remarkable vines, planted in the early 1900s, have survived through drought, disease, and the vagaries of fashion to produce fruit of extraordinary character. The 2019 vintage showcases these centenarian vines at their best, opening with an intoxicating perfume that immediately identifies this as old-vine Grenache of the highest order. Wild strawberry and cherry liqueur mingle with notes of dried roses, exotic spices including cardamom and star anise, and a distinctive earthiness that speaks to vines with roots reaching deep into Barossa’s ancient soils.
On the palate, Tri-Centenary demonstrates why old-vine Grenache has become one of Australia’s most treasured wine styles. The concentration is remarkable—layers of red and black fruits, from raspberry to black cherry—yet delivered with an elegance that defies expectations. The texture is the wine’s calling card, silky and seamless, with tannins so fine they seem to melt on the tongue. What’s extraordinary is how the wine manages to be both powerful and weightless, concentrated yet fresh, achieving a balance that younger vines simply cannot replicate. Notes of lavender, dried herbs, and warm spices add complexity without heaviness.
Yalumba’s approach to these precious vines combines traditional techniques with modern understanding, using open fermenters, wild yeasts, and minimal extraction to preserve the delicate nature of old-vine Grenache. As the wine evolves in the glass, it reveals layers that speak to both its heritage and potential—orange peel, licorice, and that distinctive iron-like minerality that comes from ancient soils. The finish is extraordinarily long and perfumed, with flavors that seem to hover and shimmer. This is Grenache that transcends simple categorization, a wine that tells the story of Australian viticulture while offering a drinking experience of rare beauty. Perfect with lamb, game birds, or Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, Tri-Centenary also possesses the complexity to be contemplated on its own. It stands as a monument to the foresight of those early vignerons and Yalumba’s commitment to preserving this viticultural heritage for future generations.
- Producer
- Yalumba
