Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Yangarra Ovitelli Grenache 2022
McLaren Vale, South Australia 🇦🇺

Overview
A highly aromatic, old-vine Grenache sourced from dry-grown 1946 bush vines and fermented with extended skin contact in ceramic eggs, emphasizing purity, perfume, and textural finesse. This is Grenache in its most lifted, elegant expression, youthful, energetic, and beautifully transparent, where fragrance and palate move in perfect harmony.

Aromas & Flavors
Explosive floral perfume leads immediately, followed by red plum, cranberry, wild strawberry, and subtle rose petal. The palate mirrors the nose with juicy red fruit, gentle spice, and delicate earthy undertones, delivering remarkable clarity and vibrancy without heaviness or excess ripeness.

Mouthfeel
Silky, light-on-its-feet, and beautifully fluid. Fresh acidity keeps everything lifted and energetic, while fine, polished tannins provide gentle structure. Effortlessly drinkable yet quietly layered.

Food Pairings
Herb-roasted chicken or duck. Grilled lamb chops with rosemary. Charcuterie and soft cured meats. Mushroom dishes. Mediterranean vegetable dishes with olive oil and herbs.

Verdict
Pure aromatic joy in a glass. This is Grenache that celebrates fragrance, freshness, and finesse rather than power. Impossible to stop at one glass, dangerously charming and wildly expressive.

Did You Know?
“Ovitelli” refers to fermentation in ceramic eggs, which enhance texture and purity while allowing gentle micro-oxygenation without oak influence, helping preserve aromatic lift and vineyard transparency in wines like this.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is exactly the kind of wine that makes me smile on first sniff, when aroma and palate line up perfectly and the bottle mysteriously empties faster than planned. — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

We were lucky to have probably the benchmark for the Roussanne grape about a month ago with the Chateau Beaucastel. This Yangarra was not as stone fruit fleshy as the old vine Beaucastel. Skinnsy notes from being fermented in ceramic eggs Two thirds fermented on skins with extended contact; one third fermented without skins. A full bodied white on the palate with notes of Quince with some viscosity and low acid finishing with some bitterness from those skins which is good. Grows on you with each sip. In summary a very good new world Roussanne. Had my last one 57 weeks later on 29/6/22 with similar notes although there was a strange unidentifiable note on the palate. Nutty. — 5 years ago

Jan A

9.4

Whole bunch fermented. This was a big, dark spices dominated wine. Bitter chocolate, lavender, dense palate, long finish — 6 years ago

Brian Ritchie

9.2

First sip is particularly dark-chocolatey with a hint of earthy undertones. Second sip as it airs out, it’s filled with berries - rich and thick full of flavor. — 7 years ago

Jeremy Pollard

9.1

(Delectable, you’ve STILL got this one wrong! This is for the Yangarra Blanc 2018. It is NOT known as ‘McLaren Vale Grenache Blanc Blend. Please correct this!!) Great stuff. Gorgeous every day drinking. Textural and complex but very easy to enjoy. Can’t. Stop. Topping. Up. — 8 years ago

with Sam

Scott Barber

Wine Educator Meadowood Napa Valley

9.1

Excellent typical example of good Aussie Grenache. First impression is 'red Clare Riesling'. Clean with ripe red fruit (strawberry fruit roll-out). White pepper with a little heart. Best with a little chill. #blindtasting #australianwinetasting #yangarra #Grenache — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A highly awarded Grenache from McLaren Vale made by the talented Peter Fraser. Sweet red earthy fruits but not overly raspberry as Aussie Grenache often is. Has a lovely sweet smooth texture. James Halliday awarded this wine his Wine of the Year in 2020 and 99 points. Vines planted in 1946 in ancient sandy soils ideal for this Grenache. If not Australia’s best Grenache then certainly in the conversation. The main reason we drank this wine a few days ago was to remember Peter Fraser who sadly passed away unexpectedly in a tragic house fire. — 7 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Many of you that see my posts know I don’t open a Napa Cabernet this young. However, this was selling at my Costco for $69.99. K&L Wine Merchants $99.99. Delectable at $115. So, I had to buy a four. I coravined this bottle for a Somm friend last weekend who likes his Napa reds young. 🤷‍♂️

While this has seen a bit of bottle evolution, it still needs another 6-8 yrs before I open another and has the potential to pick up another point or two then.

Nose shows; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, anise, dark, rich, turned earth and withering, dark, slightly candied flowers.

The palate expresses some evolution. It is rich, ripe; brambly blackberries, stewy black plum, black raspberries, darkest cherries, boysenberries, hints of blueberries and strawberries off the glass edges. Tarry, dry medium plus tannins. Dry tobacco, leather, dark spice with a touch of heat, mixed darker berry cola, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon notes, vanilla, black tea, anise, mixed fresh & drier herbs, dark, rich, turned earth, barrel shavings/dust, a hint of black pepper, moist, grey clay, dry top soil, dry river stone and withering, dark, red, slightly candied flowers with violets, very round, phat acidity with a well; balanced, big structured, tensioned, lush, elegant and nicely layered & polished finish that lasts a full 90 seconds. Still kind of in its primary stage.

This is made by Chris Carpenter who also makes; Lokoya, Cardinale, La Jota, Hickinbotham (Australia) made at Yangarra. Sofia & I tasted at Yangarra and after tasted his Hickinbotham with him in 2017.

Photos of; staff picking on Mount Veeder, Chris Carpenter in the cellar and scenic shot of Mount Veeder. — 2 years ago

October Cleveland

9.1

Touted as their answer to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this blend is a rock solid showing from Yangarra. Alive but classic. — 6 years ago

Doggfather

9.1

So surprised by this Aussie Shiraz. Nicely balanced and has aged really well. — 7 years ago

Sandeep palit

9.0

Like any ‘9.0’ wine, patience and a lot of swirling is needed to appreciate it! — 8 years ago

Fred Calatayud

9.1

GSM mix from McClaren Vale. Dark cherries, pencil lead, black pepper, plum. Very happy with it after letting it mellow since 2006. Very smooth and enjoyable now. — 8 years ago

Ross Bathgate

9.0

Very closed even at 11 years of age. Lacking the rich voluptuous texture I like in Mourvèdre — 7 months ago

James Burge

9.5

mclaren vale 2018 — 2 years ago

Jackie Ward

9.4

Slight tang, smooth, very good! Thank you Hemerson — 4 years ago

William James

9.0

Dried fruit. Plum. Leather. Charred wood. — 5 years ago

Jeremy Pollard

8.9

Lovely stuff. Beautifully balanced and deliciously versatile; a nice food friendly alternative to riesling and chardonnay. — 6 years ago

with Sam

Muralee Murugesu

9.3

Wild red fruit bomb with spicy and leathery notes. Amazing nose for this 2016 “cooler” climate parcel of this Shiraz. Good length and pairs well with lamb. Summer in canada is awesome! — 7 years ago

Simon Gilligan

9.0

Interesting - grenache flavours but with a herbal/green infusion that you might like or not. I’m a bit on the fence. Savoury finish, not candied, fresh but back to back with the Yangarra old vine Grenache ($28 Yangarra vs $20 Cirillo street price), great prices, both quality but I’ll go the Yangarra. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Tasted this new wine with Chris Carpenter who makes "Lokoya" in Napa Valley. Chris is making this wine at Yangarra. The nose is sweet perfumed blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, tarry notes, licorice & dried red florals. The wine on the palate is pretty, soft and elegant dark florals, plum, dark cherries, blackberries, soft wood use, soft leather, soft darker minerals, crushed dry rocks, violets, anise, mocha powder and a lean ripe finish that deepens on the long beautiful finish. — 9 years ago