Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Yangarra Ovitelli Grenache 2022
McLaren Vale, South Australia 🇦🇺

Overview
A highly aromatic, old-vine Grenache sourced from dry-grown 1946 bush vines and fermented with extended skin contact in ceramic eggs, emphasizing purity, perfume, and textural finesse. This is Grenache in its most lifted, elegant expression, youthful, energetic, and beautifully transparent, where fragrance and palate move in perfect harmony.

Aromas & Flavors
Explosive floral perfume leads immediately, followed by red plum, cranberry, wild strawberry, and subtle rose petal. The palate mirrors the nose with juicy red fruit, gentle spice, and delicate earthy undertones, delivering remarkable clarity and vibrancy without heaviness or excess ripeness.

Mouthfeel
Silky, light-on-its-feet, and beautifully fluid. Fresh acidity keeps everything lifted and energetic, while fine, polished tannins provide gentle structure. Effortlessly drinkable yet quietly layered.

Food Pairings
Herb-roasted chicken or duck. Grilled lamb chops with rosemary. Charcuterie and soft cured meats. Mushroom dishes. Mediterranean vegetable dishes with olive oil and herbs.

Verdict
Pure aromatic joy in a glass. This is Grenache that celebrates fragrance, freshness, and finesse rather than power. Impossible to stop at one glass, dangerously charming and wildly expressive.

Did You Know?
“Ovitelli” refers to fermentation in ceramic eggs, which enhance texture and purity while allowing gentle micro-oxygenation without oak influence, helping preserve aromatic lift and vineyard transparency in wines like this.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is exactly the kind of wine that makes me smile on first sniff, when aroma and palate line up perfectly and the bottle mysteriously empties faster than planned. — 7 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

We were lucky to have probably the benchmark for the Roussanne grape about a month ago with the Chateau Beaucastel. This Yangarra was not as stone fruit fleshy as the old vine Beaucastel. Skinnsy notes from being fermented in ceramic eggs Two thirds fermented on skins with extended contact; one third fermented without skins. A full bodied white on the palate with notes of Quince with some viscosity and low acid finishing with some bitterness from those skins which is good. Grows on you with each sip. In summary a very good new world Roussanne. Had my last one 57 weeks later on 29/6/22 with similar notes although there was a strange unidentifiable note on the palate. Nutty. — 5 years ago

Jan A

9.4

Whole bunch fermented. This was a big, dark spices dominated wine. Bitter chocolate, lavender, dense palate, long finish — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A highly awarded Grenache from McLaren Vale made by the talented Peter Fraser. Sweet red earthy fruits but not overly raspberry as Aussie Grenache often is. Has a lovely sweet smooth texture. James Halliday awarded this wine his Wine of the Year in 2020 and 99 points. Vines planted in 1946 in ancient sandy soils ideal for this Grenache. If not Australia’s best Grenache then certainly in the conversation. The main reason we drank this wine a few days ago was to remember Peter Fraser who sadly passed away unexpectedly in a tragic house fire. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Many of you that see my posts know I don’t open a Napa Cabernet this young. However, this was selling at my Costco for $69.99. K&L Wine Merchants $99.99. Delectable at $115. So, I had to buy a four. I coravined this bottle for a Somm friend last weekend who likes his Napa reds young. 🤷‍♂️

While this has seen a bit of bottle evolution, it still needs another 6-8 yrs before I open another and has the potential to pick up another point or two then.

Nose shows; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, anise, dark, rich, turned earth and withering, dark, slightly candied flowers.

The palate expresses some evolution. It is rich, ripe; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries, hints of blueberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Tarry, dry medium plus tannins. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice with a touch of heat, mixed darker berry cola, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, black tea, anise, mixed fresh & drier herbs, dark, rich, turned earth, barrel shavings/dust, a hint of black pepper, moist, grey clay, dry top soil, dry river stone and withering, dark, red, slightly candied flowers with violets, very round, phat acidity with a well; balanced, big structured, tensioned, lush, elegant and nicely layered & polished finish that lasts a full 90 seconds. Still kind of in its primary stage.

This is made by Chris Carpenter who also makes; Lokoya, Cardinale, La Jota, Hickinbotham (Australia) made at Yangarra. Sofia & I tasted at Yangarra and after tasted his Hickinbotham with him in 2017.

Photos of; staff picking on Mount Veeder, Chris Carpenter in the cellar and scenic shot of Mount Veeder. — 2 years ago

Ross Bathgate

9.0

Very closed even at 11 years of age. Lacking the rich voluptuous texture I like in Mourvèdre — 2 months ago

James Burge

9.5

mclaren vale 2018 — a year ago

Jackie Ward

9.4

Slight tang, smooth, very good! Thank you Hemerson — 3 years ago

William James

9.0

Dried fruit. Plum. Leather. Charred wood. — 5 years ago

Jeremy Pollard

8.9

Lovely stuff. Beautifully balanced and deliciously versatile; a nice food friendly alternative to riesling and chardonnay. — 6 years ago

with Sam