The Ox Hardy Grenache is a bright, medium-bodied, and highly expressive red wine from McLaren Vale, South Australia. Produced by winemaker Andrew "Ox" Hardy, this modern release prioritizes vibrant aromatics, pure fruit depth, and a silky, Pinot Noir-like elegance sourced from premium, dry-grown old vines.
- Aromas: Highly fragrant and lifted, bursting with wild strawberry, raspberry, and red liquorice, layered with rose petals, cardamon spice, and a hint of herbal stalk.
- Palate: Fleshy, juicy, and energetic, packed with crunchy red cherries and raspberries, beautifully balanced by a lively acidity and soft, abundant chalky tannins.
- Style: A contemporary, perfume-driven expression of McLaren Vale Grenache that trades heavy extraction or sweet jamminess for texture, spice, and supreme, light-footed drinkability.
- Winemaking: Sourced primarily from prized old bush-vine sites in Blewitt Springs, the fruit is partially whole-bunch fermented and matured for six to eight months in seasoned French oak to preserve its natural vibrancy.
- Cellaring: While built to completely charm right now for its immediate fruit-forward crunch, it has the balance to cellar and evolve gracefully over the next 5 to 6 years.
- Food Pairing: An incredibly versatile food match, pairing wonderfully with Peking duck pancakes, chorizo paella, grilled lamb cutlets, or a selection of tapas.
This is a cracking, high-energy red that completely mirrors the current evolution of premium Australian Grenache. It swaps massive alcohol and heavy structure for pure fruit bounce, a gorgeous perfume, and incredibly silky tannins that glide across the palate. It is a fantastic bottle to keep near the fridge for a quick 15-minute chill before pouring