Yangarra Estate Vineyard features sandy soil which is great for old vine Rhone varieties

Yangarra Estate focuses on Rhone varieties grown on its own biodynamic vineyard in McLaren Vale. Their flagship is bush-vine [head-trained] Grenache. Yangarra Estate offers a number of wines though, including red, white, rosé and sparkling.

Grenache is the variety for which McLaren Vale is best known. Located in South Australia, south of Adelaide, the vineyards get plenty of sun and warmth during the long, dry growing season. However, cooling breezes from the nearby ocean keep daytime temperatures from getting too hot and bring temperatures way down at night. The result is ripe, luscious fruit that is also fresh and not raisiny.

Yangarra Estate itself is less than two miles from the Gulf St. Vincent. It’s vineyard features three distinct soils: sand, ironstone with a thin layer of clay/loam and ironstone covered with rocks and alluvium. These differences add to complexity in Yangarra’s multi-block blends.

The Yangarra winemaking style leads to fresh, non-shouty wines with pretty fruit and balanced complexity. These reds were aged in French oak, but new barrel usage is quite limited. There’s also whole berry fermentation—up to 50%—which highlights bright fruit with floral accents. Finally, the screwcap closure inhibits oxidation, maintaining freshness and leading to slow maturation that will yield much more complexity after extended aging.

By the way, the interactive vineyard map on the Yangarra website is fabulous. I wish other wineries would adopt something similar.

2013 Yangarra Estate Old Vine Grenache McLaren Vale, South Australia 92 14.5% 750ml screwcap $20

Dark purple in the glass with lovely aromas of ripe red cherry, raspberry, leather, spice and a trace of eucalyptus. The palate is medium in body with very fine, soft, chalky texture. Red cherry is at the core, but there’s also black raspberry and spice. Well-balanced and gently juicy. Ready to drink, perhaps with a splash into a decanter, but will age through 2030. Superb value.

2013 Yangarra Estate GSM McLaren Vale, South Australia 92+ 14.5% 750ml screwcap $20

49% Grenache, 29% Shiraz, 22% Mourvedre. Macerated red cherry swaddled in savory notes: earth, new leather and spice. Medium+ body in the mouth with fine-grained, chalky tannins and flavors of bing cherry, Chinese five-spice and aged leather. Best now through 2025. Try it with leg of lamb. Very good value.

2013 Yangarra Estate Shiraz McLaren Vale, South Australia 93 14.5% 750ml screwcap $20

Opaque purple in the glass. Delightful aromas of black plum, black cherry, dark flower, smoke, star anise, black pepper and leather. Medium+ body with plenty of very fine, soft, chalky tannins and flavors which match the nose. This is a structured, elegantly flavored wine with great length and persistent juiciness. Drink now through at least 2030. Superb value.

Copyright Fred Swan 2016. Image, which I edited, courtesy of Yangarra Estate. All rights reserved.