2024 E.J. McDougall Old Vine Grenache, McLaren Vale

The second release for this project from Eddie McDougall and winemaker Lilian Carter. Blewitt Springs fruit, from a site first planted in 1939; maturation in seasoned foudre. It’s somewhat surprising that this is all whole bunch, given how neatly it sits within the wine, present but not intrusive, the old-vine gravitas centre-stage. A little reduction is quickly banished by billowing blue and dark-red florals, wild raspberry, red and black cherries, white pepper and an array of warm spices. There’s a weightless depth to this, an intensity without heft, the silky, supple palate – an old-vine gift – equipped with a lacy web of complex tannins. This is exceptional. Drink to 2034.

96+ points Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion, June 2026 

McLaren Vale Grenache is one of Australia's most exciting wine styles right now, and the best of them deliver the finesse and levity that Pinot Noir promises, coupled with the structure and freshness of Piedmontese Nebbiolo. The combination is inherently and unmistakably Australian. Floral they may sometimes be, and certainly detailed, but the trick to their excellence is the restraint—they must not be big, overbearing wines of alcohol, jammy fruit and tannin. They must be inherently medium-bodied, detailed and fresh. The naturally lower pH alongside ripe fruit is specific to McLaren Vale and, here, the Blewitt Springs sands. The fruit is destemmed and sorted on an optical sorter. The stalks (close to 100% of them are kept, but any green stalks are removed) are retained and thrown back into the ferment, which occurs in concrete, and the fruit is then basket pressed post-ferment and settled into concrete. In 2024, the wine was then sent to foudre, where the élevage went for 11 months, followed by 16 months in bottle prior to release. The 2024 Old Vine Grenache is perfumed and floral, leading with rose petals and graphite, sweet tobacco and tapenade. The fruit in the mouth is capacious and measured, persistent and long through the finish. This is a wine of place, first and foremost, while the making seems almost "in the background," and rightly so. It has notes of sweet paprika dolce, pink peppercorns (in that gently citrus way that they have) and cranberry/black cherry. I do love this region and variety so much. This is an excellent wine here. Drink to 2039.

96 points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, April 2026

Medium-deep red laced with bright purple tones; the bouquet is all smoky charcuterie, sweet berry bonbons and dried herbs, while the palate is full and firm, with a core of sweetly succulent liqueur cherry flavour corralled by serious tannins. Lovely wine indeed. Drinking well already. Drink to 2039.

95 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, May 2026

E.J. McDougall is the Australian negociant project of flying winemaker Edward McDonnell. He has been making wine for numerous labels and vineyards for more than two decades across Australia, New Zealand, Italy and France. For this project, he is joined by Rutherglen-born winemaker Lilian Carter whose own wine experience spans France, South Africa, China and New Zealand.