Wine Review: Oliver's Taranga McLaren Vale Grenache

To speak of a family’s connection to their land, which I think is important, William and Elizabeth Oliver settled on their land in McLaren Vale in 1841 and, today, it is fifth generation Don Oliver tending the vines, Corinna Wright making the wine and Brioni Oliver managing the cellar. A family affair.

It is a lovely place to visit if you are ever down that way, there is a cute little cottage for the cellar door and all manner of good stuff on tasting, but I digress. The wine shows a Pinot-like hue in the glass with aromas of ripe plums and berry fruits along with hints of cola, Asian spice, hoisin, ginger cake and wafts of gentle oak.

It’s quite giving and expansive on the palate, fruit-full yet retaining a savoury edge with light tannins tugging at the roof of the mouth as the wine trails off into the distance.

For me, Grenache’s strongest points are its drinkability and its ability to match all number of different foods at the dining table. It’s also great on its own, can take a chill in the fridge if you like it a bit cooler and is killer with some spicy Taiwanese bao.

OLIVER’S TARANGA 2015 McLaren Vale Grenache

oliverstaranga.com