Brick red in colour with brilliant crimson hues. The Duke is perfumed and aromatic with a plushness and innate satisfaction to the nose, red currants, dark cherries and strawberry compote combine and are further enhanced with subtle oak and spicy herb nuances, contributing to the wine’s overall appeal. Instantly recognised as Grenache – from its long, mineral driven structure and chalky tannins, to its bright cherry and blackcurrant fruits – the wine remains anchored to its unique terroir. Its sense of place carried from start, through to a persistent, flavoursome finish.

Classified as a Reserve wine, the Duke is only released in the very best years that not only showcase the wine itself, but also reflect the variety’s rich heritage and pedigree in the valley. The Duke is carefully blended from two single Grenache vineyards in Watervale, aged 72 and 78 years respectively. Both vineyards are dry farmed, hand pruned and hand harvested. 2014 was a cooler vintage, perfect for the slow ripening of all parcels to occur, maximising their intensity of flavour, delicate structure and final linearity. Both vineyards loam over limestone soil profiles have contributed greatly to the wine’s chemistry, polished tannins and cellaring potential. From each hand-picked parcel arriving at the winery, to the small open topped fermenters that were used, to the basket pressing to three to six-year-old seasoned French oak hogsheads, traditional vilification processes have been followed, hardly changed over many generations of winemaking. Some extended skin contact and bottling the final cuvee, both unfined and unfiltered, has maximised the wines true potential.

Can be cellared for 10-12 years. Serve now with warm goats cheese and wild mushroom salad.