Limited edition wooden gift box: here

Description: Sourced from a southern Barossa Vineyard planted circa 1880 this is a Grenache of elegance and purity. Bright crimson colour leads to red-fruited aromas of raspberry and strawberry; this is complemented by earth, sweet spice and pepper. The palate is medium-bodied, lively and fleshy, with medium tannins maintaining a degree of elegance. The persistence of sweet red berry flavours combined with a soft finish gives a wine you can enjoy now or over the next 15 years.

Around 30% whole clusters were tipped into open fermenters with the balance crushed on top; header boards were placed on day 2 of ferment. Temperatures reached 32C with pump overs performed 1-2 times daily. 

After 10 days on skins, the fruit was basket pressed and transferred into older puncheons to undergo malo-lactic fermentation. Post malo, the wine was left 3 weeks before SO2 was added; the wine was left on lees and topped regularly. The wine was racked in early February without fining or filtration before bottling. As with the shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, natural cork closure finished with wax.

Vintage: 2021

Grape Variety: Grenache

Region: Zerk family vineyard, Lyndoch, Barossa Valley

Reviews & Awards: 2021 A Wine Show Governor’s Trophy Best South Australian Red Wine, Trophy Best Grenache in Show, Gold Medal

Ancestor vines (equal to or over 125 years of age) inspire the Planta Circa label – literally “planted around the region of” as the exact date of the plantings remains a mystery. Purple Hands believe the cabernet vines are some of the oldest on their roots, still producing fruit today.

The Planta Circa cabernet was first released from the 2013 vintage and received a 97-point rating from James Halliday, which ranked it amongst the top Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the 2016 Halliday Wine Companion.

“This is pure and simple cabernet, elegant, long and finely structured. A great cabernet vintage for this great vineyard.”

James Halliday, published 18 June 2021

The 2021 wines have just been released.

In 2018 the Purple Hands team were delighted to be offered the grenache and shiraz from this fantastic vineyard, enabling them to expand with 2 more single-vineyard Ancestor Vine wines, the shiraz and grenache. Each wine shows what these ancient vines can deliver, varietal fruit characters with complexity and elegance.

The wines are made in small volumes due to the tiny plots and low yields, producing enough fruit to create 100 -150 dozen yearly. Demand outstrips supply and the new releases are eagerly anticipated by those in the know.