MMAD Vineyards 2021 Blewitt Springs Grenache 750ml

The Mmad Vineyard is an interesting project headed up by Martin Shaw, Michael Hill-Smith MW, Adam Wadewitz and David Le Mire MW (Martin, Michael, Adam, David—the acronym is obvious). The goal was to find a high-quality vineyard to purchase in McLaren Vale, specifically Blewitt Springs. When this vineyard finally became available, they pounced: the real story is more nuanced than that, but all you need is the gist. The wines are excellent and show the confluence of greatly talented wine minds and hands in the group. This 2021 Grenache is pure and layered; the silty tannins are threaded through every aspect of the fruit in the mouth. The acidity makes it almost ethereal. The wine is supple, with notes of beetroot, bloodroot and raspberry pip. Very impressive. Very fine. Nice density. Great tannins—chalky. The wine saw a combination of concrete and large format, old oak. This is a supreme first release.

Score: 94 points -- Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, 2022