Barr-Eden Estate Love Over Gold Grenache 2021

“Love is an emotion that can be felt for an eternity. Gold is just material.” Barr-Eden Estate is a storied piece of land situated at the crest of Mengler’s Hill, one of the highest points of viticulture in Australia. Well-known grape-grower Joel Mattschoss first acquired fruit from the site, which sits atop the ancient goldfields of the Eden, in 2014, to produce the first small batch Love Over Gold wine with Frenchman Pierre-Henri Morel. After the passing of the estate’s owner, Barossa icon, Bob McLean, in 2015, a venture began between the two, along with friends Michael Twelftree and Tim Hower, to become the new custodians of this special property of great pedigree. The Grenache vines at Barr-Eden Estate were planted in 1997 – at 545m elevation this is some of the highest Grenache in South Australia. 2021 was mild, with a slow ripening season over a long Indian Summer. The fruit was handpicked, destemmed and tipped into a one tonne fermenter. Gentle pump over and slow extraction until full dryness. Only the free run was placed into a 3 year old French oak barrel. The Barr-Eden Estate Love Over Gold Grenache 2021 has a soft palate with extremely precise and thin tannins that caress and carry on the freshness and intensity, the fruit has carried its freshness and vibrancy. The 2021 Love Over Gold Grenache is fine-boned, febrile and pretty, with layers of blood and iodine, plum skin and licorice. The tannins are embossed into the fruit and are incredibly pliable and malleable in the mouth. This is not a big expression of Grenache, and some may argue it isn’t “big” enough for Grenache – but not me. This remains true to variety with an abundance of graphite tannin and a mineral, cooling finish. The fruit is not overly sweet; it is balanced by an exotic pink peppercorn/pastrami/sumac character. What a wine! A big, mineral YES. – 97 Points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate The Finer Details Style – Red Wine Varietal – Grenache Country – Australia Region – Eden Valley, South Australia Vintage – 2021 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 14%