TOPE Afternoon Roll Old Vine Grenache 2023

92 POINTS: Wine Pilot
94 POINTS: Wine Direct Tastng Team

Grenache isn’t a variety you’d usually link to the Clare Valley, but given how the Afternoon Roll has reacted to this pristine part of the world, it’s obviously thriving. There are beautifully ripe and fragrant aromas of confectionery, strawberry, raspberry and red cherry as soon as you open the bottle, with some savouriness of black tea and earth developing a little later. On the palate it’s a delight, with silkiness, nice minerality, chalky tannins and very pleasant fruit sweetness. I think it will look even better in a year or so.

From the rugged, high-altitude vineyards of South Australia’s famous Clare Valley comes one of the most exciting boutique discoveries we’ve tasted in years. Tope Wines craft small-batch wines that perfectly capture the region’s trademark purity, freshness and intensity — combining classic Australian fruit power with an elegance and restraint rarely seen at these prices. These are seriously impressive wines: vibrant, character-filled.

Abv 13.5%