Some years ago, chief winemaker Chester Osborn, sought out additional premium Grenache fruit from McLaren Vale to meet the high demand for d'Arenberg's Grenache-based wines. Amongst others, a particular vineyard planted thirty years ago with Grenache appeared promising. Last used for grape production two decades ago, the vineyard fell into neglect with weeds and native grass becoming more dominating than the vines, making them unproductive. Long bracken ferns and native grasses entwined and hid the vines and the vines themselves resembled Medusa?s hair - wild, struggling and gnarled. This was the inspiration in the naming of this wine. Taming and rejuvenation of the vineyard has occurred patiently over several years. Given time to breathe, you are struck with very distinct old vine brooding Grenache aromas dominated with fresh berries such as raspberries, cranberry, plums, bitumen/tarry characters and spices such as cinnamon, fragrant dates, toasted fennel seeds and dandelions - cut flower stem notes. The palate is richly flavoured with a mix of ripe strawberry and cranberry coulee and turkish delight. Then you hit a wall of black fruits and jubes, dark sour cherries, and then vanilla bean note comes back at you. This is serious stuff as the acidity almost suffocates the ripe chunky tannins and the finish is dominated by a mix of raspberries and cranberry syrup flavours. For a big wine it is surprisingly quite elegant and refined and has a level of softness which Grenache, made in the right hands, is capable of. The depth and concentration of this wine indicates a wine capable of extended cellaring.
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