Mirus 'Block 16' Bush Vine Grenache 2023

$65.00

The unusually mild season and tank fermentation has helped us produce a vibrant exceptionally, elegant Grenache with great length. Crimson in colour, with floral and wild herbs aromatics and light berries, some nuttiness and black pepper spiciness on the palate. Fine, fresh and long, savoury finish. The resulting wine tells a story of minimal intervention and handling really expressing the season and place where this wine is from.

The unusually mild season and tank fermentation has helped us produce a vibrant exceptionally, elegant Grenache with great length. Crimson in colour, with floral and wild herbs aromatics and light berries, some nuttiness and black pepper spiciness on the palate. Fine, fresh and long, savoury finish. The resulting wine tells a story of minimal intervention and handling really expressing the season and place where this wine is from.

96 POINTS - Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, 2025

95 POINTS - Dave Brooks, Halliday Wine Companion , 2026

95 POINTS - Andrew Caillard MW & Andrea Pritzker MW, The Vintage Journal, August 2025

Winemaking

Tasting the grapes on the vine prior to harvest highlighted the clonal difference between blocks 16 and 18, leding to the decision to include a portion of whole bunches in the ferment and to mature 100% in tank rather than oak. The moderate yield of 1.4 tonnes was fermented in one small open top tank, 30% whole bunch, natural ferment with indigenous yeast. Maturation took place in tank for 10 months. No fining or filtration and minimal sulphur added post secondary (malolactic) fermentation and before bottling.

Vineyard Notes

Dry grown since 1936, ample spring rainfall set the vines up well for the 2023 growing season. Pruning occurred in August and is tailored to each vines potential, generally 6 - 10 spurs per vine in an upright vase formation. Two passes of under vine cultivation using the vine knife was carried out to manage weeds and competing undergrowth. Shoot thinning occurred in early November, essential in Grenache and these old bush vines, restricting yield and creating an open canopy for even sunlight exposure. A very cool summer pushed veraison back 4 weeks to the beginning of February. Being on the western ridge with our drier, windier conditions, meant harvest still fell before easter, the long, cool ripening conditions helped build flavour while retaining elegance.