The ancient peoples of Australia navigated the vast emptiness of the continent using mind maps; instructions remembered in song and passed down the generations. A kind of pre-GPS TomTom. This enticing wine celebrates this near-lost tradition and the Barossa’s well-trodden red earth in its deep, warbling fruit, a very song of the soil.

We are very proud to be associated with Smalltown Vineyards (formerly known as Magpie Estate) of the Barossa Valley - for our first proper foray into the Barossa we could not have been associated with a more compelling producer.

Smalltown Vineyards is based on 42 hectares of prime sandy loam in the Barossa Valley’s premium Ebenezer District, specifically the highly sought-after Kalimna blocks producing world class reds. Working with other vineyard sites in the Barossa and Eden Valleys to express this uniquely magical corner of the world. Winemakers Rolf Binder and Christa Deans craft superb expressions of the region in their small, hands-on winery in Tanunda. We have a lot of fun with labels because, well because we can. It’s only wine after all…

A wet summer and winter in set the vines up perfectly for the 2012 vintage. Spring and summer were drier than normal, resulting in lower fruit yields. A small heat burst just prior to veraison assured a solid colour change, small berries and pronounced tannins in the grapes. The red wines from this vintage are black, solid and quite structured, the biggest year for some time; not oily but definitely gutsy.

This is a single vineyard Grenache. The grapes come from the Gomersal sub-region of the Barossa. Partly wild yeast fermented with around 30% whole bunches. Aged only in stainless steel to preserve a crunchy freshness.

An intriguing nose of leafy tomato compote with a chutney-esq depth of star anise and black pepper. The palate is a bright wash of berries, tomatoes (again) like a breezy allotment salad. It’s just a lovely, expressive, primary and pure experience of bright Barossa Grenache.

The perfect match for herb infused grilled meat and ratatouille or pasta dishes.