Vanguardist 'Botanic' McLaren Vale Grenache Syrah Rose 2024

Winemaker Michael J. Corbett is hot property in Australia. He is known for his fastidiousness, perfectionism and sheer stubbornness, as well as the elegance, lift and finesse he achieves in his wines.. I don't think I have ever met a winemaker who is such a force of nature when it comes to seeing out his vision, defying all the odds or commercial restraints. Botanic is a new range of wines from the Vanguardist stable, which sits just below the tightly allocated and highly sought after 'V' range. The fruit for this rosé was hand picked from old bush vines in the sandy Rende single vineyard in Blewitt Springs and was combined and foot trodden before wild fermentation in half stainless steel and half concrete sphere. The wine went through full malolactic fermentation before spending a further three months on gross lees. The vessels were then blended and the wine spent another three months on fine lees before bottling unfined and unfiltered. A different style to the 2023 'V' Rosé, which had a longer elevage and more oak. This wine is still a very serious rosé albeit a little more primary fruit driven and less savoury. The nose is lovely, with blood orange, orange blossom, fennel, pink grapefruit and apricot notes. The palate is complex and fresh but with a broad, rounded texture and a delicately grippy tannin. Wild strawberry, redcurrant, mineral freshness and a salinity complement the silky, broad and textured palate.