Swinney Farvie Grenache 2020

Swinney Farvie Grenache is a hilltop selection from the first bush-vine Grenache planted in Frankland River.

In the late 1990s almost nobody in Western Australia was planting Grenache, and the received wisdom was that it would never ripen in the cool of Frankland River. Matt Swinney planted it anyway, using massale cuttings from David Hohnen, and gave the vines the best ground he had: the hilltops. This release comes from a single pick off untrellised bush vines planted in 2004 on the upper northeast-facing crest, where deep gravelly ironstone sits over clay subsoil. Each vine is picked several times over, and only the bunches sitting in dappled light inside the canopy are set aside for this bottling. Those bunches are sorted berry by berry, then run by gravity into a 1600-litre French oak vat.

Ferrous and mineral, with red cherry, dried rose and orange peel over tannin that is fine and persistent, so the Barolo comparisons make sense. Serve at 16 degrees and give it air. It suits roast duck, slow-braised lamb or aged Comté.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.