2023 Head Old Vine Grenache 6 Pack

94 POINTS

James Suckling

A well-rounded, velvety and engaging grenache with aromas of dried strawberries, bay leaves, dried flowers and black tea leaves. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Lively and layered, with bright and juicy red fruit, intense and precise spices and dried herbs on the palate. It's full of verve yet so refined in texture. Long, succulent finish.

94 POINTS

Dave Brookes - Halliday Wine Companion

Grenache with a 3% splash of mataro for good measure, sourced from out Ebenezer way in the north. It's a pretty little thing with aromas of wild strawberry, plum, raspberry and dried cranberry with underlying hints of gingerbread, exotic spice, orange blossom, dried citrus rind and turned earth. Plenty of space and detail on the palate with fine, silty tannins, pure, spicy fruit and just the right amount of cut and drive. It's delicious, and tremendous value to boot.

92 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Vinous

The 2023 Grenache Old Vine delivers upfront aromas of red cherry, fennel seed and spice with an attractive initial flow. This is light-bodied with subtle meaty and spicy layers. It’s a little angular right now but will fill out in time.

91 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

This is from 1950 plantings on the Riebke vineyard, Ebenezer. Heady says ‘We focussed on the warmer sites due to the mild and humid conditions that prevailed over most of the growing season.’ It’s an interesting wine and quite different to the usual Head Grenache wines. I’m thinking raspberry, red liquorice, mint, ginger biscuits, curry spice, and a sort of rose oil perfume. It’s medium-bodied, a bit sappy and amaro-laced, almond is in the mix, and it’s quite spicy too, with something of a mulchy character and poached strawberries. Sooty tannin is a thing. The finish has some blood orange tang and bitterness, but gee, it’s wine that presents a cooler expression of Barossa Grenache. In some ways, it’s a hard wine to get your head around, and perhaps even harder to rate. I don’t know. It’s quite nice to drink though.