2005 Cirillo Grenache 1850's Old Vine

Halliday Wine Companion

• By James Halliday
  10/14/2008, (See more on Halliday Wine Companion...)

  (Cirillo Wines 1850s Old Vine Barossa Valley Grenache) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Josh Raynolds
  September/October 2008, IWC Issue #140, (See more on Vinous...)

  (Cirillo Estate Wines Grenache 1850 Old Vine Barossa Valley) Login and sign up and see review text.

The WINEFRONT

• By Gary Walsh
  8/21/2008, (See more on The WINEFRONT...)

  (Cirillo 1850s Old Vine Grenache) Login and subscribe to see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  8/27/2007, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (CIRILLO 1850) Garagiste Cirillo Dear Friends, You rely on us to be ahead of the curve and today we present a reserve-level wine produced from what are the oldest known Grenache vines in the world (150-170 years of age, making them some of the oldest known vegetation in the western cultivation of the Southern Hemisphere). This is one of the most limited wines produced in South Australia with only 100-150 cases in a good vintage and it is a reflection of the new breed of Australian terroirists (like the Schist Rock Shiraz) that wish to express their vineyard, climate and vine and not the cooperage. The root-stock is so old on this property (all pre-phylloxera) that each plant produces only a few berries of the most concentrated, ethereal fruit. This is the type of wine and winery that your hard-earned dollar would be well-served to support. The “Cirillo 1850” has been one of the more difficult wines to get in Australia and it makes something like Clarendon Hills Grenache seem mass-produced. It would be very interesting to serve this blind next to the new cadre of luxury cuvees from CdP as there is really nothing like this produced in the world. I can only imagine what the US pundits will think when they finally get a chance to taste this. While I disdain references to the “Screaming Eagle” of this and the “Screaming Eagle” of that (I am just as guilty of this reference), this wine truly has the pedigree to be the Three Rivers of Grenache... Alex Head, Vinosense (the oh-so modern wine blog for the in-the-know Australian set): “Perhaps the oldest Grenache vines I know of are those owned and tended by Marco Cirillo of Cirillo Estate Wines in the Light Pass region of the Barossa Valley in South Australia. His only wine (at the moment) is called 1850 Old Vine Grenache and yes it is a single varietal (the would be 150+ year old Shiraz vines were pulled out in the 80s?). To see this beach sand vineyard is truly a wine wonder of the world experience. You’ll probably see Marco hunched over painstakingly tending the vines too as it’s pretty much a full-time job for him. The vines are basket-pruned and trained to gnarl around each other so they do not crumble under their own aging weight. The spare time Marco does get is used to make his wine out of his own grapes (usually the last to be picked in the Barossa). Marco is probably what you call a minimalist/traditionalist winemaker. He makes his wine with minimal intervention, seasoned oak and uses techniques handed down to him from his Italian grandfathers. “Let the vineyard speak - not the winery.” He says. “I like to drink my wine at the kitchen table with our traditional Italian food (produced by the almost self-sustaining Cirillo property). My wine is made for my food. It’s that simple. If you come to my place - that’s what you get.” Marco modestly states. Tasting Note on the 2004: In the glass it’s almost Burgundian in colour and depth - it’s nice to see through a wine for once (if only just.. this lighter colour comes from the fact the soil is lighter sand over clay). Huge aromas of meat, spice, apricot, menthol and anise radiate out of the glass with red/black cherry fruits. A liquor like character attacks on the palate with massive glycerol and boundless amounts of fruit. I find myself drinking this wine way too quickly as unctuous acid just keeps refreshing my mouth. It’s just so drinkable for a wine of this monstrous size. The length is what really grabs you though…I love it. 95+pts.” A major new find. EXTREMELY LIMITED - only 25 cases for the entire US market ONE SHIPMENT ONLY directly form the winery cellar with perfect provenance 2004 Cirillo Estate “1850” Old-Vine Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Aus9898