2023 Juxtaposed Smart Vineyard Grenache, McLaren Vale

From the fabled Smart vineyard, off a block planted in 1954; crushed and destemmed, raised in hogsheads of various nationalities, all old enough to not proclaim origin, though not without influence. There’s such refinement to the Smart fruit, a transparency and verve, and that’s on full display. Tart wild red fruits – cranberry, redcurrant and sour cherry – with orange zest, green cardamom and clove. It’s early for this, playing sinewy and taut, with a seam of vibrant acidity and fine, puckering tannins, but that bodes well for a long future and plenty of positive development. It’s another gem from one of our greatest vineyards. Drink 2025 to 2035.

95 points Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion (Special Value), November 2024

Juicy, succulent and crunchy, showing strawberries, dried berries, wild herbs and hot stones on the nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and bright acidity. Full of verve and energy with a crisp, racy and long finish. So many peppercorns and herbs mingling toward the finale. Drink or hold.

94 points James Suckling, May 2025

Light to medium ruby red hue. Raspberry, vanilla and coconut aromatics. Oak notes sit on top of the palate, the fruit is bright and red but we mostly see sawdust and vanillin notes. Tannins are coarse and cut it short for now. I suspect that time would see it come together a little more. Drink 2027 to 2031.

90 points Stuart Knox for The Real Review, May 2025

A Canadian snowboarder who took a restaurant job in Whistler for thirteen years to keep his days free for the slopes — before wine took over entirely. A degree in wine biochemistry, an internship at Château Léoville Las Cases in Bordeaux and a PhD later, Wes Pearson arrived in McLaren Vale via an unlikely route in 2008 and now works as a Senior Sensory Scientist at the Australian Wine Research Institute. Fancy. His label Juxtaposed launched in 2011 is the other side of his professional life: where the research world demands precision and process, the winery demands feel and instinct. The name captures both. A Len Evans Tutorial alumnus, Wes focuses on single vineyard Grenache and Shiraz from across McLaren Vale, sourcing from growers whose stories he considers as much a part of the wine as the fruit itself.

The Smart Vineyard was planted in 1922 and sits in Clarendon at one of the highest points in McLaren Vale. Wes selects the best two barrels from this site each vintage and bottles them as a pure expression of the place. Crushed and destemmed before fermenting on skins, matured in large format old French oak without fining or filtering.

The 2023 is a wine of real refinement and energy. Tart wild red fruits on the nose, cranberry, redcurrant and sour cherry with orange zest, green cardamom and clove. The palate is sinewy and taut with a seam of vibrant acidity and fine, persistent tannins.

Playing a little closed now but this will open considerably over the next few years and has a long future ahead of it — a wine that deserves patience and something earthy when the moment comes: slow-roasted duck with cherry and thyme, or a simple board of aged hard cheese and good bread while you wait for a better occasion.

Drink 2025 through 2035.