Description

MMAD Grenache is classic. It is instantly appealing with raspberry,  black pepper, and red dirt. With time it evolves to be dusty, with anise, typical Grenache jelly bean/confectionary, and raw meat. MMAD Grenache is sleek, clean and silky in the mouth. You can feel the dry tannins fill your palate. Flush with red fruits and supported by complexing biscuit, black tea, mineral, a hint of brine. MMAD Grenache finishes extremely long. I would say this wine has charm from the start and evolves into a complex beast with time. It will improve for the long-term too. I’m planning to keep some for 15 years.

MMAD Grenache Blewitt Springs 2022, and all wines are eligible for at least 5% off any six bottles. And 10% off any 12 bottles. Some wines will be at a more significant discount and not subject to further discounts.

MMAD is a partnership of four. Famously Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW who started Shaw + Smith together in 1989, along with winemaker Adam Wadewitz and Sales + Marketing head David LeMire MW. They have acquired a vineyard in the higher, cooler part of McLaren Vale; Blewitt Springs. The highlight of the vineyard is Grenache, planted in 1939, Chenin Blanc, planted in 1964, and Shiraz, planted in 1941. This is a recipe for great wines and of the range I have tasted to date, I have greatly enjoyed them all.

MMAD Grenache Blewitt Springs 2022 Wine Review

NED GOODWIN MW
JAMESSUCKLING.COM
96 Points

“A sumptuously perfumed grenache with no shortage of structural exactitude and the tension that comes with it. Lilacs, tapenade, raspberry coulis, freshly picked strawberries and anise. Dried lavender and rosemary are bound to the tannic latticework. Salty and nourishing, with the warmth of umami across the long finish.“

Blewitt Springs

There are a lot of people who believe that the sandy, ironstone-rich soils of Blewitt Springs are the best place in Australia for Grenache. Some would argue it rivals the best places in the world. With the modern style of Grenache being made from old vines, it is hard to argue the point. The aromatics, texture and complexity are evident and I am looking forward to trying more and more of the mature wines from Blewitt Springs.

McLaren Vale

The maritime climate and sandy soils of McLaren Vale make it a great place for growing grapes. Reds in particular excel here. Shiraz of course, but the Spanish varieties Grenache and Tempranillo seem well suited too. The maritime climate helps mitigate some of the heat from the SA summers and the sandy soils mean that phylloxera could not survive and so they have some of the oldest vines in the world.

Grenache/Garnacha

Spain’s gift to the world. We know it as Grenache, and I think everyone has a soft spot for it in some way. Almost too exuberant in expressing its sweet red fruits and high alcohol, it often needs a little bit of other wines to add moderation, structure and depth. Much like Abbott and Costello. Despite this, the wines of Priorat, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rioja and Aussie GSMs have an amazing ability to age for the long term.

Australian Wine

The invasion of “Sunshine in a bottle” put Australian wine on the map.  The fruity, easy-going, somewhat samey wines were endearing for a short time. Then the next big thing knocked them off their perch.

This forced producers to increase quality and emphasise the distinctive terroirs of Australia. Of which, there are many. And many more yet to be discovered.

Wine

Wine is the result you get from fermented grape juice. There is proof of wine production dating back 8000 years ago. Fashions, innovations and many other factors have influenced the way wine has evolved over the years.

The wine grape is special. It contains everything you need to make grape wine except for the yeast, which lives on the outside of the skins.

Human inputs can influence the final product, including the viticulture (growing) choices. And the winemaker can shape the wine to a point too.

The best wines of the world often refer to terroir. Terroir is a French term that refers to all the climatic, geological and topographical influences on a specific piece of land. And it is true that neighbouring vineyards, grown identically, can taste noticeably different.

Red Wine

Fun fact; most of the colour for wines comes from the skins. There are only a handful of grapes that have red juice. Alicante is the most well known of these grapes.

By macerating the juice on the skins, the wine gains tannins, and flavours. Certain compounds change the chemistry of the wine too.

Red wines tend to have higher alcohol. More tannin and more oak flavours compared to other styles of wine. But the thousands of grapes and terroirs they grow in influence this.

The Wine Depository

I, Phil, have been running The Wine Depository since 2011. The Wine Depository exists to make sure you are drinking the good wines. You can browse and pick what is interesting to you. Or you can make contact with me. I’ll make sure you get what you want, to your palate, to your budget and to your door.