Product Overview
Importer's Notes
"These old, dry grown bush vines grow in shallow soils on hard rock, requiring hand pruning to keep producing berries in this harsh environment. The vines are very small for their age, their tiny shoots giving them a bonsai appearance.
Parcels of each varietal are gently crushed and fermented in small batches in traditional headed-down open fermenters, followed by foot-treading. The skins are then gently pressed in traditional 19th century ‘Coq’ and ‘Bromley & Tregoning’ basket presses prior to maturation in French and American oak barriques for 12 months. The barrel ferments are aged on lees, and there is no racking until final blending. There was no fining or filtration prior to bottling.
This wine is showing the hallmarks of the warm, early 2016 vintage. It’s full bodied and mouth-filling with luscious dark plum and mulberry flavors. The tannins are quite soft with spice and a little alcohol heat contributing to the finish. This is a drink now, fruit driven wine, well suited to food or without."
Varietal Composition: 48% Grenache, 47% Shiraz, 5% Mourvèdre
Appellation: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Aging: 12 months in new and older American and French oak barriques
Winemaker: Chester Osborn
92 Points - James Suckling
91 Points - Wine Enthusiast
"This blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre is carried by aromas of raisiny red berry, plum, olive, herbs, graphite and dried flowers. The palate is full-bodied but poised, with bright acidity, juicy fruit and a good grip of fine-grained, savory tannins that are wound with more graphite character." -CP, 4/1/19
88 Points - Wine Advocate
"The 2016 The Bonsai Vine Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre also contains about 3% Viognier. It starts off with boysenberry and blueberry on the nose, and those fruit notes continue on the palate, but their impact is dulled by this full-bodied wine's firm tannins, which impart a strict savory edge to the long, mouthwatering finish." -JC, 9/25/18
86 Points - Wine Spectator
"Dried lavender details add an aromatic note to the dense core of blackberry, black currant and fresh herb flavors, set on a dense frame, firming up on the finish. Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2029. 200 cases imported." -MW, 11/19/18
