The custodian Grenache 2021  McLaren Vale, Grenache (100%)  The Name  During the vine pull scheme in the 80s,  d’Arry Osborn refused to remove his old  Grenache vineyards. Today, d’Arenberg is  the keeper of nearly one-third of McLaren  Vale’s old bush vine Grenache, earning the  title of ‘Custodian’ of the variety.  The Vintage  The preceding winter was beautifully wet,  flushing the soil of salts and filling the soil  profile. Spring was also wetter than average,  with rainfall continuing until November,  which was almost completely dry. November  was hotter than normal, upsetting the  setting of berries—just as well, as the bunch  number was way up.  Two inches of rain in early February were  much appreciated by the relatively large  crops. Where crops were smaller, berry size  grew. The heat produced rapid flowering,  set, and berry development, leading to an  early veraison and the equal earliest start of  vintage on record. A few consecutive days  around 35°C in February rapidly ripened  early, lower-cropping vineyards. From then  on, the vintage was mild and dry. Average  temperatures for autumn were lower than  usual. Some warm 30°C days in late March  and early April helped finish ripening the  larger crops and late-ripening varieties.  Harvest dates  Residual sugar  16 Feb - 13 Apr  1.6 g/l  The Winemaking  Small batches of grapes are gently crushed  and transferred to open fermenters. Foot  treading is undertaken two-thirds of the way  through fermentation. The wine is basket pressed and transferred to old French oak  to complete fermentation and mature. The  barrel ferments are aged on lees, and there  is no racking until final blending. This wine  does not undergo fining or filtration prior to  bottling.  The Characteristics  Bright ruby red.  Lifted aromas of red cherries, cranberries,  and red plums, with a hint of bouquet garni.  Generous red fruits with a slight savoriness  on the palate, rounded out with complex  graphite tannins.  An elegant and complex example with loads  of flavor and interest