Tri-Centenary has been promoted to the Yalumba’s Rare and Fine tier for the first time (read: it’s now $15 more expensive). And it’s worth it. This is a grand statement of just what grenache can do in the right hands and the right place. That place is an 1889 planted vineyard in Vine Vale with a sum total of just 820 vines. It completely transcends this warm vintage (“Old vines on good soil have roots so deep they are barely influenced by seasonal fluctuations or even daytime fluctuations” – Louisa Rose). At six years of age, this is a grenache that exudes magnificence. It possesses a line, length and tannin structure rarely demonstrated by this variety, very fine and silky yet with grip, support and long-lingering focus. It’s both succulent and juicy in its wild strawberry, plum and cherry liqueur depth, and at the same time savoury in its dried herb and mixed spice personality. Cork seal. June 2014 release