2023 Aphelion Brini Grenache, McLaren Vale

From the Brini Vineyard in Blewitt Springs on sandy-based loam soils; 100% whole bunch; matured in larger, neutral oak. There’s a coolness of fruit here, though with some darker tones, sour cherry, tart redcurrant, wild strawberry, herb infused and seasoned with ground brown spices, dried mint, a bitter almond/kernel note and a hint of hay. The tannins run tight, assertive though not entirely unsympathetic, if needing time to resolve. This may polarise with its nervy, taut and sour-fruited delivery, but there’s quality to the fruit. Time will tell…

92 points Marcus Ellis winecompanion.com.au

Aphelion Brini Grenache from McLaren Vale is a vivid, transparent expression of site and variety, handcrafted by Rob Mack, one of South Australia's most exciting contemporary winemakers. Aphelion focuses on small-batch, detail-driven Grenache and Mediterranean varieties, and the Brini Grenache is a standout from their lineup. It hails from dry-grown bush vines planted in the 1940s on the Brini family vineyard in the Blewitt Springs subregion, an area renowned for its deep sand soils and old vine material.

The Blewitt Springs terroir brings a signature lift and finesse to Grenache, and Rob Mack leans into this with a minimalist winemaking approach. Hand-picked fruit is mostly destemmed but kept largely whole-berry for a gentle ferment. Native yeasts, open-top fermenters, and a soft extraction regimen lead to purity and brightness in the final wine. It sees maturation in old oak barrels to frame the fruit without imposing structure.

Aromatically it’s bursting with wild strawberries, blood orange, rose petal, baking spice and dried herbs. The palate is silken and medium-bodied, with vivid red fruit, stony minerality, and ultra-fine tannins that dance rather than dominate. There’s a savoury undercurrent of dried thyme, black tea and anise that keeps the wine grounded and food-friendly.

Pair it with grilled lamb chops with rosemary, duck with spiced cherries, or charred eggplant with tahini and pomegranate. It’s drinking beautifully now and will evolve gracefully over 5 to 7 years.