Tim Adams Bluey’s Block Grenache 2013 Clare Valley, South Australia 75cl

Tim Adams is a family-owned winery in the Clare Valley, working only with Clare fruit chosen for its true regional and varietal character. The wines are known for their honesty and generosity, and this Grenache sits firmly in that mould.

Bluey’s Block is a named single-vineyard site, and this wine is pure Grenache drawn entirely from it. Bottling a single block this way lets the vineyard speak clearly, giving a warm, mouth-filling red at a ripe 14.5% alcohol that still keeps its fruit lift and its sense of place.

This is the 2013 vintage, and with time in bottle the wine has settled into a more developed register. The bright primary fruit of youth has broadened towards dried red fruits and a gentle earthiness, while the tannins have softened further.

On the nose and palate expect lifted red berries and the typical peppery spice of Grenache, threaded with a whisper of liquorice and framed by supple tannins and subtle oak. The finish is long and fruit-driven. Serve it at 16 to 18 degrees with roast lamb, grilled beef or barbecued meats.

For those who enjoy warm-climate Grenache or the softer, spice-laden reds of the southern Rhone, this single-vineyard Clare bottling offers plenty of character and a comforting, food-friendly warmth.