Alkina, Barossa Valley Grenache
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Rumours of Alkina began circulating in the UK a few years ago: whispers of ethereal, tiny-production Grenache that began to set hearts racing. After their wines first arrived in the UK, sommeliers scrambled to get their hands on them and the strict allocations immediately disappeared onto wine lists. Now, we are buzzing with excitement to offer these wines for the first time: they are truly glorious and we strongly recommend that you take the opportunity to secure these for your cellar while you can.
“Among the finest iterations of straight grenache in the world. Irrefutably. Tastes akin to top-drawer Burgundy, much like Rayas, with a similar Mediterranean jive of sweet fruit. ” Ned Goodwin MW, jamessuckling.com
"To me, only 5 per cent of vineyards around the world have this level of diversity and quality of terroir." Pedro Parra
Polygon No. 3 Grenache
0.274 hectares, around 200 vines, produce this wine. The thin topsoil hides a thick band of sedimentary limestone studded with fractured schist. This is an incredibly elegant, fine-boned wine with a real delicacy and floral character that has more than a little in common with the great wines of Chambolle-Musigny.
2022
GBP 390 per 3x75cl IB
98pts Huon Hooke, Real Review | "Deep colour but still translucent. More graphite, ironstone aromas, trace of pepper. Voluminous, full-bodied, big firm tannins, serious structure but elegant, very long palate. Black cherry but not straightforward."
2020
GBP 390 per 3x75cl IB
GBP 810 per 3x150cl IB
97pts Ned Goodwin MW, jamessuckling.com | "Among the finest iterations of straight grenache in the world. Irrefutably. Tastes akin to top-drawer Burgundy, much like Rayas, with a similar Mediterranean jive of sweet fruit. Mid-weighted of touch, with a veil of chiffon tannins enveloping clove, white pepper, Seville orange, tamarind and kirsch. Ineffable really, so good is it. The feeling, ethereal, nervous and jittery; graceful and optimistic, such is the beauty on show. This could easily be nudged one more point upwards."
2019
GBP 405 per 3x75cl IB
GBP 280 per 1x150cl IB
95pts Huon Hooke, Real Review | "Medium-deep red-purple, bright colour; sweet raspberry grenache fruit on nose, a hint of iodine and peppercorn. The wine is full-bodied and infused with masses of drying tannins, the palate rich and full-bodied and lingering, with lovely balance and roundness, discreet fruit sweetness notwithstanding the drying tannins. A very smart grenache indeed."
2018
GBP 435 per 3x75cl IB
GBP 300 per 1x150cl IB
17/20 Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com | "Gentle sweetness of tangy red fruit – but not the sweetness of very ripe Grenache as this is more al dente – plus a flinty elegance and a touch of citrus and wild herbs, on the verge of floral. Juicy and intensely fresh, a coiled, dry energy and really tight, chalky freshness. A light note of dusty minerality. Super-fine tannins which add to the freshness. And very long. Bright but not sweet except in tangy red fruit. Mouth-watering and so finely textured. Tender and vibrant. ‘Reactive tannins’, as Antonini calls them. You could pretty much drink this now though there’s no hurry."
Polygon No. 5 Grenache
This polygon is made up of two parcels, 0.37ha together, where the schist rises to the surface with deep cracks, filled with clay. This dense soil is full of iron and produces a far richer, more darkly-fruited wine with a firmer structure that recalls the Rhone more than Burgundy, with a concentration that is simultaneously compact and seamless.
2022
GBP 390 per 3x75cl IB
GBP 810 per 3x150cl IB
97pts Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate | "Polygon 5 Grenache is not only deeper in color than the previous two wines on the table, but it is also more aromatically concentrated. That same black cherry/pomegranate molasses/black tea melange exists at its core, however there is also black pudding, pastrami, cracked pink peppercorns, damp undergrowth/forest leaf matter, sandalwood and scratched orange peel. It's really good. The tannins are gritty but fine—they're the highlight for me. They almost insists that you chew a little. This is an excellent wine. Very long."
2020
GBP 390 per 3x75cl IB
GBP 810 per 3x150cl IB
18/20pts Julia Harding MW, jamessuckling.com | "Elegant dark-red fruit. Stony, almost floral and charming in its darkness. Finely dry tannins that are rare in the Barossa. Dry, refined. Pure. Restrained, dry and long, the tannins giving shape to that lovely fragrance. Tannins are super-fine and very dry. A light touch yet with enormous intensity without being overly concentrated. A wine of great beauty, both intense and elegant."
2019
GBP 405 per 3x75cl IB
GBP 280 per 1x150cl IB
97pts Huon Hooke, Real Review | "Medium-full red-purple colour with a savoury, ironstone-like bouquet, an earthy, rocky minerality, the palate immensely powerful and focused, concentrated and long, with masses of mouth-coating tannins. A stunning wine of great character and drive."
2018
GBP 435 per 3x75cl IB
GBP 300 per 1x150cl IB
96pts Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate | "This 2018 Polygon 5 Grenache is more savory than the Polygon 3 from the same vintage, without the curve and flow through the finish of the 3. I like the assertiveness of this wine; it is savory and structural and a little wild. Less tamed. Very impressive. It's a heady combination of satisfying, pleasurable and exciting. It was matured in thick-walled concrete that retains a freshness and builds a textural complexity and finesse. Excellent. Striking."