Availability ||
⮽ ALM Account (Unavailable)
☑ Reilly’s Direct Account ONLY
Estate Vinyard || 1919 Block, Leasingham, Clare Valley // Planted 1919 Rich red loam // Aspect W // Elevation 415m
Winemaker || Justin Ardill, Owner & Winemaker since 1993
Viticulture | 1919 Block is the oldest site within our estate vineyards and one of the oldest within the Clare Valley wine region. The site requires expert viticultural management to ensure ongoing productivity and fruit quality. Cropping is naturally low yeild for old vines and this site is no exception with average yeilds of 1.5T per acre. These old vines are dry grown and require no irrigation apart from natural rainfall, resulting in deep, strong roots which allow the plant to access deeper moisture and more diverse nutrients and minerals. These vines are steady and reliable and less likely to affected by adverse weather conditions, consistently producing small yeilds of top quality fruit year after year. Hand picking is required as the vines are not trellised like other grape varieties, instead they grow as small, low bushes.
Winemaking || The grapes have concentrated flavours, balanced acidity and are hand picked at optimal ripeness. After hand picking, traditional winemaking methods of open fermentation, hand plunging and gentle pressing are used to extract maximum flavour and colour from the grapes. Maturation in French oak hogsheads for 24 months allows flavour and texture development whilst the wine continues to develop in the bottle with careful cellaring for up to 10 years.
Profile ||Sweet lifted aromas of dark fruit, pepper and liquorice with flavours of cherry, blackberry and chocolate. Finishing with silky mouth feel, firm tannins and great persistence on the palate.
Cellaring || up to 2028
Specifications ||
Alcohol: 15.5%
TA: 5.92g/L
pH: 3.45
RS: 1.2g/L
Size: 750ml
Case QTY: 12
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
BRONZE MEDAL ~ Clare Valley Wine Show 2023
BRONZE MEDAL ~ Rutherglen Wine Show 2024
PAST VINTAGE AWARDS & ACCOLADES
2016
GOLD MEDAL – 2019 Global Grenache Masters, Drinks Business UK
Dan Traucki, https://www.facebook.com/dan.traucki, 25th Aug 2020
“Reillys Wines 2016 #clarevalley ‘OLD BUSH VINE’ #grenache -vineyard planted in 1919!!-lovely lifted aromas of blackberries, cherries & pepper, a sensationally tight tasty palate with lashings of flavour including a hint of savouriness & dry tight tannins on the finish. Tremendous cellaring potential – A REAL KEEPER”
2013
4 STARS – Winestate Magazine, March/April 2017
“A big old school style with mature meaty aromas and a powerful but elegant red/black fruit flavours on the well-structured palate.”
2012
SILVER MEDAL ~ 2015 Cairns Show Wine Awards
91 POINTS ~ Josh Raynolds (USA), www.vinous.com, March 2016
“Bright ruby. Highly fragrant, spice-accented blackberry and cherry aromas are complicated by sexy floral pastille and allspice qualities, with white pepper and licorice nuances emerging slowly. Seamless, broad, and sweet in the mouth, offering supple red and blue fruit preserve flavors and a hint of candied flowers. Closes juicy and very long, with harmonious tannins and resonating spiciness.”
Wine Selector Magazine, Autumn 2016
“Reillys believe in minimal winemaking intervention, allowing the fruit to shine. Developing cedar and cassis lift over confectionary and liquorice aromas lead to a plush, dense and rich palate with a lovely core of blackberry, mulberry and prune-like fruit with secondary cedar notes and refreshing acidity.”
Ross Noble, The Courier, Wed 24th June 2015
“Handpicked and open fermented before maturation in French and American oak for two years, it is a hearty red with aromas of dark berry fruits and spice leading to luscious, lingering flavours of cherry and chocolate. Try it with lasagne.”
Tasting Notes ||
2018 | 2016 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004
