Lovely mild ripening conditions gave us Grenache with an intense core of red and blue fruit. There is a purity and density, but also a lightness that belies the energy and power of the fruit. Raspberry coulis and pomegranate notes sit alongside fennel seed and cumin, and flavours continue to unfurl as the wine sits in the glass. The grapes were mostly destemmed and fermented as whole berries in open concrete and stainless steel, before aging in used 500 litre puncheons. Located in the dress circle of Blewitt Springs, MMAD Vineyard was first planted in 1939, and the oldest Shiraz blocks date from 1941. The vineyard has the fine Maslin sands found in Blewitt Springs, and is exposed to the fresh sea breezes from the south-west. Below the sand is a layer of ironstone pebbles, and this combination of sand, ironstone, and cooling winds gives both perfume and structure to the wines.