Vanguardist Oeno Grenache 2024

95 POINTS

Marcus Ellis - Halliday Wine Companion

Off the Rende vineyard in Blewitt Springs, leased and exclusively managed by Michael Corbett; 60% whole bunch with maturation in a concrete sphere and seasoned puncheons. Trademark Vanguardist; this is savoury, subtle, structured, tense yet tensile. Dried cranberry and redcurrant, cherry, pressed wildflowers, warm russet earth, dried and ground orange peel, caraway and white pepper, a crunch of autumn leaves. As said, it’s savoury, but it has plenty of upfront charm, too. I’ve perhaps worn this analogy out, but the nebbiolo echoes are resounding, if it is also decidedly, unquestionably varietal. Excellent, and great value, with time sure to bring greater rewards.

94 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

We will tick over to 70,000 reviews this month (actually many more when you factor in the entries that feature vertical tastings and the like), and certainly that will happen after I upload the endless spreadsheets that MB has just sent me. A lot of my work is purely clerical, but, you know, the rest of the team seem challenged by any sort of technology, so it’s up to me to do these things. I don’t mind. I have a long background in IT. We’ve reviewed 39 wines from Vanguardist over the years – HERE which is more than any other wine review site, I’m pretty sure. Anyway, this is 60% whole bunch, old puncheons and a 1500L concrete sphere. Rende vineyard, Blewitt Springs. 50+ year old vines. Cherry, peanuts, mint and dried flowers, spice. It’s medium-bodied, an earthy and savoury character, a little meaty too, with fine-grained dusty tannin grip, a pomegranate tang in with red berries, nutty, spicy and peppery on a finish of excellent length. It’s lighter and breezier than the V Grenache, and I’d expect that’s kind of the point. Very nice. So stylish.