The finest vintage in the region to date, bridling pinot-like essences with a Mediterranean warmth. The tannins, a broad slake of sandy, pixelated grittiness. Vinous and old-vine forceful. Pithy red cherry, tamarind, musk and lilac drawn long, taut and exact. This is a stunning wine. Imperious, even. I'd love to see this in a decade or more. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - 97pts, Ned Goodwin for James Suckling The 2021 Ovitelli Grenache is sourced from Block 30—a two-hectare adjacent to the High Sands block, planted in 1946. Sorted on the fancy sorting table at Yangarra and fully destemmed, it fermented in ceramic egg and spent 133 days on the skins. It matured exclusively in ceramic egg (13 months' elevage, no pressings in the final wine), so we know the texture and structure inherent in this glass is vineyard- and berry-derived rather than from the vessel. Already, we are in cool territory. On the nose, there is fresh tobacco leaf, graphite, raspberry leaf, lavender, turmeric/saffron, matcha, licorice and a hint of dehydrated orange peel (moving onto the negroni/Camari end of the spectrum here). In the mouth, the tannins are super fine, milled into compressed powder that plumes through the fruit, like blood in the water. This is mineral, detailed, exciting, febrile, ethereal and lacy, even. Wowee. Strong statement about McLaren Vale Grenache here. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. - 96+pts, Monica Larner for The Wine Advocate From 1946 plantings, adjacent to High Sands. Gets a whopping 133 days on skins (the High Sands a more modest 21 days). Raised only in ceramic eggs. My word, the rise and rise of Grenache in this country is something to behold, and as a hard core Nebbiolo enthusiast, I find a kinship in this wine. Red cherry, raspberry, liquorice root, lemon thyme, orange peel, pepper and exotic spice, rosehip. It’s fleshy with superb graphite tannin, rich flavour but with no excess, the botanical and citrus peel perfume, the succulent raspberry and redcurrant, the tang and freshness, even some smoky bacon things and black tea, but so tight, and so right, with a finish that carries on and on, much like my prose, perhaps. If this wine is my muse, then so be it. Throw yourself on to the rocks of this delight. It’s siren song is strong. Your passage is a modest $80. Pleasure awaits. - 96+pts, Gary Walsh for The Wine Front Among the finest wines in Australia. Destemmed fruit, crushed and extracted across a whopping 133-day window in eggs. Blood plum, sappy raspberry, licorice root, bergamot and pepper grind. Clove, tamarind and mint. Gorgeous. Pinosité aplenty, yet beautifully extracted with skittish, long-limbed and gritty tannins corralling the fray. Tear-inducing stuff. Levity, transparency and intensity, all in one. - 96pts, Halliday Wine Companion