The Auswine Forum

I'm a big fan of Grenache but I get nervous at about the five year mark. Has anyone had experience with an Aussie Grenache or Grenache-dominant blend that has benefited from 10+ years in the cellar?

I enjoyed Penfolds CR Grenache 2002 up until last year, when it seemed to lose some rich fruit and decend into stewy territory. Or maybe the bottle just wasn't so good. Must try another soon.

We've had some recent discussion around here on this very issue, general concensus is drink up, why wait??

Cheers
TiggerK

I've yet to find examples of straight grenache (garnacha in Spain) that fire me. I dread to think what 8 year olds would look like.

Blends are a different matter.

Cheers

Allan

I had a great Charles Melton Nine Popes I think it was a 98 (need to check my notes) takes on a lovely soft feel, but retains the brightness of the fruit with a jammy (not overt) aftertaste.

The 96 Melton Nine Popes did ten years in a canter. Wish I still had some left.

d'Arenberg Ironstone Pressings is said to cellar pretty well.

Greenock Creek Cornerstone Grenache will do 10 plus years.

Thommo wrote:d'Arenberg Ironstone Pressings is said to cellar pretty well.

d'Arenberg original ages great - Also sold as Burgundy in the 70's and many are still drinking great

How about Noon's Eclipse and Solaire? I believe they go the distance more than 10 years

ufo, spot on, the Noon Eclipse does 10 years no worries. I fonldy recall a 1998 Eclipse looking very good at an Adelaide offline in 2007: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6649&p=47448&hilit=noon+eclipse+1998#p47448

ufo wrote:How about Noon's Eclipse and Solaire? I believe they go the distance more than 10 years

absolutely agree, not long ago popped a 03 Eclipse & it's still really really young, huge tannin & needed to sit most of the day to tone down to somewhat drinkable.... i think Eclipse can last 15+ years easy

I can confirm the posts on both the Ironstone Pressings and the Eclipse.

I cracked a '98 Eclipse earlier this year. It was stunning and clearly still had many years ahead of it (until I drank it that is).

As for the Ironstones, the '96 is drinking brilliantly at the moment and is probably at its peak. The '94 was a little less long lived and seemed at its peak 4 or 5 years ago.

I love the Turkey flat when youngish but have had a bad experience with one falling over at 6-7 years old.

Both d'Arenberg Ironstones and the Original had fair dollops of shiraz in them, as well as grenache, so that may make a difference.
I've bought (but not collected) some 01 Custodian (100% grenache) at Langtons - will be interested to see how that's fared...
cheers,
G

Thommo wrote:d'Arenberg Ironstone Pressings is said to cellar pretty well.

Had 98 IP not long ago and it was delicious. Must look at some recent vintages

Had an '03 Piramimma Old Bush Vine Grenache a couple of weeks ago, was beautiful, I'm not sure but I don't think it would go the distance to 10 years, unfortunately it was my last so no experimentation to do .

For any of you Brisvegans out there who are still curious about this particular question, 1st Choice Liquor in Toowong has 2000 D'Arenberg The Custodian on the shelf at the moment. Picked up a few bottles, but haven't given them a run yet.

Did a mini-vertical of Cirillo 1850 Old Vine Grenache 03-06. All will do 10 years easily, 04-06 should do 15 minimum & could well go longer.

jeremy wrote:Did a mini-vertical of Cirillo 1850 Old Vine Grenache 03-06. All will do 10 years easily, 04-06 should do 15 minimum & could well go longer.

2nd that its a wonderful Grenache