Ulithorne Aureus McLaren Vale Grenache 2024

96 POINTS

Sam Kim - Wine Orbit

This is rich yet refined, showing dark berry, smoked meat, potpourri, and roasted hazelnut aromas. It's juicy and plump on the palate with a fleshy texture and fine-grained tannins, leading to a splendidly long, expansive finish.

96 POINTS

Russ Gallagher - Vino Masters

A striking, deep ruby hue with brilliant clarity and youthful vibrancy. The nose is immediately seductive with an aromatic explosion of ripe red and black cherries, raspberry coulis and juicy plums, laced with fragrant sweet spice (star anise, cinnamon and clove), crushed violets, earthy undertones and a whisper of cola and cedar from judicious oak. On the palate, this is a blockbuster Grenache with serious presence and finesse. Generous layers of cherry-plum and raspberry fruit drive the mid-palate, supported by savoury aniseed, sweet spice and subtle earthy complexity. The texture is silky and polished, with fine, supple tannins providing structure without aggression. Bright acidity keeps everything fresh and lively, leading to a long, sustained finish that lingers with red fruit, spice and a refined mineral edge.  ★★★★★ Powerful yet elegant, seductive and beautifully balanced. Upper echelon drinking.

96 POINTS

Ray Jordan - Winepilot

Such a beautiful season and such a beautiful wine. This is from a single vineyard in Blewitt Springs within McLaren Vale. It is stylish, it is elegant, it's in that medium-weight zone, and it perfectly expresses what modern Australian grenache, especially that from McLaren Vale, is all about. Red fruits of rose petal and strawberry open on the nose with subtle spicy notes. The palate is just so beautiful, with a seamless integration of oak and tannins. It's had about 20% new oak, which seems to have suited the power of the fruit perfectly. A most impressive grenache that highlights why this variety has become so popular in Australia.

95 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson

There’s finesse through the finish here but the palate itself is a blockbuster – in the best of ways. This is a modern twist on a traditional Australian grenache. It’s awash with sweet spice notes, infused with earth, cola and cedar, and propelled throughout by substantial cherry- plum, raspberry and aniseed fruit flavour. It’s seductive, refined and beautifully well sustained. In short, it’s upper echelon. 95