The 25 words or less version: It’s the end of an era for the Tonic Clare Grenache, as we welcome some newcomers to the ring hailing from McLaren Vale. Skins for three quarters of a month, pressed in older oak, unsulphured. Darker berries, crunchy, aromatic, Amaro-like. Ding ding!

 
The GB version: The last Tonic Grenache that will include fruit from Clare – sad but probably true! We took fruit from the Humphris Vineyard in Sevenhill for the last time and then fruit from 2 vineyards in McLaren Vale – one in Blewitt Springs, the other in McLaren Flat, both over 60 years old. A smaller amount of whole bunch in 2020. Without doing the math, I’d say around 15%. Everything else in the process remains the same as previous – 23-ish days on skins, pressed to older oak and left on full lees unsulphured until bottling.

Unlike the Chardonnay, this one is probably a more powerful wine, less flighty, likely due to the shift to McLaren Vale (but really, who can say). Red and slightly darker berried fruits, still crunchy, still highly aromatic – amaro like. Mmm. The palate is showing some darker fruit profiles, but the texture and the weight is classic Tonic in style. Flavour without ‘thickness’, high interest level, tannins lead and fruit follows. A brightness of acid that keeps the finish fresh but allows the fruit to tell the story. Or something like that…