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Three Aphelion Wines Lauded by Decanter
Louise Rhodes
Feb 26, 2025
Decanter's Inaugural Australian Grenache Report
Released in their January print edition, Decanter have taken a deep dive with three respected wine critics into Australian Grenache. Beth Pearce MW, Sara Muirhead MW and Ben Chan have scoured the country and sampled 51 wines.
Guess who came out on top?
Hint - you're on their website.
Yup, the little label my husband and I started in 2014. Aphelion - is the top Grenache in Australia according to Decanter.
THIS. IS. HUGE!
Honestly we are blown away.
From the get go we set out to make the best Grenache we possibly could from McLaren Vale fruit. We firmly believed - and still do - that McLaren Vale has the most ideal conditions for growing outstanding Grenache in the world. Letting the fruit speak for itself - without fussy winemaking or additions - is the second half of our philosophy.
To have our approach recognised by such a revered publication, perhaps the most well known wine publication in the world - well I scarcely have the words, but rest assured we have ALL the feelings!
Aphelion Confluence Grenache 2022 - 96 points
This wine.
It has so much of our love.
We made the Confluence the very first year we started Aphelion.
Our aim was to show how beautiful, how delicious, how intriguing Grenache can be when you bring together different parcels from different parts of the same vineyard as it was when we started. Later it became how different parcels of different vineyards come converge together in perfect alchemy to be greater than the sum of their parts as the project matured.
And it is still only $42 a bottle. Extraordinary good value.
Critics always score it on par or just a point or two below our study of single site Grenache, which is our flagship project.
More love for the Confluence 2022:
- 94+ points Erin Larkin Robert Parker Wine Advocate
- 94 Points Gary Walsh The Wine Front
- 93 points Ned Goodwin James Halliday Wine Companion
Brava Confluence!
Aphelion "Wait" Single Site Grenache 2022 - 93 points
Rob's favourite of our trio of single site Grenache.
This project reminds me of how James Halliday described Aphelion, and i paraphrase here - "Akin to painting with a single hair paintbrush".
Such is our focus on letting the fruit, and our grower's site's shine while coaxing extraordinary natural aroma, flavour, mouthfeel and structure by delicate hands off winemaking. A study in miniature at the sub-vineyard level.
The Wait is the most structural and savoury of the three. Grown by the Wait family in Blewitt Springs. Certified under Sustainable Winegrowing Australia - a McLaren Vale developed program now available to wine regions worldwide. Robyn Wait & family dry grow this block which is on a west facing slope on the high side of the road.
Other critics love the Wait 2022, too.
- 97 points Erin Larkin for Robert Parker Wine Advocate
- 97 points Huon Hooke The Real Review
- Wine of the Year 2023, Five Way Cellars
- Wine Advocate Robert Parker Best Grenache In The Country
- 95+ points Gary Walsh for The Wine Front
- 95 points Ned Goodwin for Halliday Wine Companion
We think you will as well.
MAKE WAIT THE CENTREPIECE OF MY GATHERING
Aphelion "Brini" Single Site Grenache 2022 - 92 points
Ahh the Brini.
Marcello Brini was the grower who sold us our very first tonne of pristine Blewitt Springs Grenache, way back in 2014.
His vineyard is on the South facing side of Chapel Hill Road in the Blewitt Springs, affording the growing clusters an enviable view over the hills and dales of McLaren Vale.
A rip-roaring breeze soars up the hill every day, affording the grapes air cooling. The result of which is bright aromatics of red currant and spice cupboard. Deep plum and raspberry flavours with juiciness and a finish of powdery tannin that invites another sip.
My favourite (Lou here!) of the single site trio. I love those aromatics.
But if you seek further proof, here it is:
- 95+ points Erin Larkin for Robert Parker Wine Advocate
- 95+ points Gary Walsh for The Wine Front
- 92 points Ned Goodwin for Halliday Wine Companion
So much to love here.
CELEBRATE WITH BRINI TO TOAST WITH
Below are the final four pages of the report for your convenience.
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