{"title":"Willunga 100 | McLaren Vale","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"River Red Gum Tree standing tall over Willunga 100 Vineyards in the McLaren Vale, South Australia\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/Willunga100PropertyVineyardsBanner.jpg?v=1705313573\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWillunga 100 has focused on premium Grenache since its first vintage in 2005. It was the sensitivity to site that Grenache displays in McLaren Vale, that attracted owners David Gleave MW and John Ratcliffe during their first recce to the region. They became determined to showcase the old vine Grenache they came across in vineyard after vineyard, particularly at a time when few took this grape seriously.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMcLaren Vale has great geological diversity from sub-region to sub-region, and the soils are among the oldest in the world estimated at over 500 million years. This, along with the mediterranean climate and old vines, combine to produce low yields and stunning, concentrated fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWillunga 100 takes their name from the historic ‘Hundred’ of Willunga that was established in 1839, only three years after the settlement of South Australia. At the time, 100 households were needed to occupy an area in order to qualify for a place on the map, this was called a ‘Hundred’. Today, the Hundred of Willunga is where much of the fruit comes from to make their wines. The tree featured on the bottles is an old River Red Gum that stands tall over the vineyards. It was well over a hundred years old when the first vines were planted in Australia in the 1840’s.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn late 2022 Renae Hirsch took over in the winery. A highly accomplished winemaker, she brings a wealth of experience and a passion for McLaren Vale Grenache.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"willunga-100-mclaren-vale-grenache","title":"Willunga 100 McLaren Vale Grenache 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe grapes for the Willunga 100 Grenache are sourced from the estate-owned 'Blind Spot' vineyard in the sub-region of Blewitt Springs in McLaren Vale. The 100% dry grown, bush vine Grenache comes from three different sections of the vineyard, each with a slightly different aspect and elevation. The average vine age is approximately 50 years old, and the soils of the vineyard are deep Maslin sand over a base of ironstone and clay, resulting in grapes that have great depth of flavour. The three selected parcels were each hand-harvested and vinified separately. Fermentation took place in stainless steel, open-top fermenters. Two parcels were fermented with 20% whole bunch (equating to approximately 14% whole bunch across the wine). Gentle basket pressing took place after 10 days on the skins. Following primary fermentation, 60% of the wine was transferred to seasoned French oak puncheons to undergo malolactic fermentation. The wine remained on fine lees for 10 months prior to racking and bottling, unfined. This Willunga 100 wine is a vibrant expression of Grenache that opens with bright, lifted red raspberry aromas on the nose. The palate is laden with red fruits, complemented with fresh blood orange and Chinese five spice over a supportive frame of fine-grained tannins. [#intro]A vibrant, single-vineyard, old vine Grenache from McLaren Vale specialists, Willunga 100...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Willunga 100","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40883341328451,"sku":"A21WILLUNGA100GRENACHE","price":16.75,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/GrenacheBt_bb12577b-e0bc-4eda-aae2-96853dfe5a86.jpg?v=1706029239"},{"product_id":"willunga-100-smart-vineyard-grenache","title":"Willunga 100 'Smart Vineyard' Grenache 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe grapes for the Willunga 100 'Smart Vineyard' Clarendon Grenache were sourced from the one hectare vineyard planted by Bernard Smart’s father in 1922 on loamy soils over red-brown clay. Only two growers - one of which is Willunga 100 - take fruit off this block, while others take fruit off his 60 and 70 year old vineyards about 400 metres to the north. This is the highest and coolest site in McLaren Vale. As a result, the wines are slightly lighter and more lifted than those made from grapes grown in other sub regions. The grapes were hand harvested, destemmed and whole berry sorted into open top stainless steel fermenters. The whole berry ferment spent 10 days on skins, during which time it was gently plunged to ensure optimum extraction while maintaining the delicate aromatics. The wine was then basket pressed off of skins before maturation and malolactic fermentation on lees to retain fruit purity and freshness. It was aged on its lees for 12 months prior to bottling. The Willunga 100 'Smart Vineyard' Grenache displays a layered and floral nose of fresh lavender, Thai basil, blood orange and red cherry. The palate has a beautiful structure balanced with a bright  pomegranate-like acidity, Chinese five spice and a lingering savoury finish. [#intro]Award-winning Grenache from Bernard \u0026amp; Wayne Smart’s century-old vineyard in Clarendon...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Willunga 100","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40956973416515,"sku":"A23WILLUNGA100SMART","price":29.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/SmartGrenacheBt.jpg?v=1708537728"},{"product_id":"willunga-100-16-stops-shiraz","title":"16 Stops Shiraz 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 16 Stops Shiraz is made with grapes from a mix of South Australian vineyard sites with the majority (90%) coming from the Riverland region along the Murray River. It is produced alongside the Willunga 100 wines in McLaren Vale and benefits from the same expert input from Willunga 100’s winemaker Renae Hirsch. The name '16 Stops' refers to the number of stations on the railway line built in 1915 to transport goods and people between the wine country town of Willunga and the capital city of South Australia. This South Australian Shiraz is deep crimson in colour, with a lifted nose of dark plum, red berries, black pepper and some notable spice. Careful use of oak lets the fruit shine while providing some structure and complexity. The flavours across the palate echo those of the nose with a slight earthy and savoury tone. Fresh, silky tannins give this wine a beautifully long finish. [#intro]Made alongside the Willunga 100 Wines in McLaren Vale 16 Stops offers tremendous value...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Willunga 100","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55997798515069,"sku":"A2116STOPSSHIRAZ-1","price":11.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/16StopsShirazBT.jpg?v=1746806649"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/collections\/Willunga_100_Collection_Logo.jpg?v=1705313702","url":"https:\/\/hic.wine\/collections\/willunga-100-mclaren-vale.oembed","provider":"Hic!","version":"1.0","type":"link"}