The results of the eighth annual James Halliday Grenache Challenge have been announced, with the Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache coming out on top. The judges assessed 137 single-varietal Grenache wines from around Australia, celebrating the growing strength and incredible diversity of the variety.
Hosted by the McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association (MVGWTA) each October, the James Halliday Grenache Challenge benchmarks Grenache wines from across Australia, tracking styles and movements developing across the industry.
The 2024 Challenge saw McLaren Vale Grenache reign supreme, with the four highest-ranked wines and eight of the top ten wines all hailing from the region.
The judging panel commented that the 2024 James Halliday Grenache Challenge was “an absolute pleasure to judge, with the diversity and stylistic evolution of Australian Grenache well and truly on display.
“A wide range of styles were rewarded, with the top wines displaying quite compelling and vibrant fruit aromatics, with balanced tannin structures and a bright line of acidity.
“The judicial use of oak (or no oak), bunch inclusion and reduction also provided an extra layer of interest in some of the best wines. The quality of the recent 2022 and 2023 vintages is reflected in the results.”
Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache received the top result, scoring a 97 and the Top Gold medal. Notably, another Penny’s Hill Grenache followed closely behind, with the Penny’s Hill 2024 The Abstracts Grenache ranking at number 4 in the challenge.
Chair of Judges, Andrew Thomas, said the winner stood out like a beacon within its class, a testament to both detailed winemaking and a pedigree vineyard site.
“The wine displayed impressively vibrant red cherry fruit, delicate florals and a subtle whole bunch complexity, together with a sweet fruited yet savoury texture, crunchy acidity and chalky tannin structure. This is benchmark Grenache indeed,” said Thomas.
Penny’s Hill chief winemaker, Alexia Roberts, said the win was an outstanding achievement for the Penny’s Hill team, and showcases its Blewitt Springs vineyard site, meticulous winemaking approach, and passion to produce world-class wines.
“We consider ourselves lucky to have access to some of the region’s most iconic vineyards and are proud to see McLaren Vale leading the way with Grenache,” said Roberts.
The full list of gold medal winners included:
- Penny's Hill Penny's Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache - 97
- Pannell Enoteca S.C. Pannell 2022 Old McDonald Grenache - 96
- Wirra Wirra Wirra Wirra 2023 Farmer's Heart Grenache - 96
- Penny's Hill Penny's Hill 2024 The Abstracts Grenache - 96
- Paulett Wines Pauletts 2022 Brielle Grenache - 96
- Paragon Wine Estates Krondorf 2023 Stone Altar Barossa Valley Old Vine Grenache - 95
- Hedonist Wines Hedonist Wines 2022 Ecology Grenache - 95
- Kay Brothers Kay Brothers 2023 Griffon's Key Grenache - 95
- Willunga Hundred Pty Ltd Willunga 100 2023 Trott Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache - 95
- VOK Beverages Pty Ltd Beresford Estate 2023 Emblem Old Vine Blewitt Springs Grenache - 95
- Head Wines Head Wines 2023 Old Vine Grenache - 95
- Paulett Wines Pauletts 2023 BMS Brielle Grenache - 95
- Serafino Wines Serafino 2022 Reserve Grenache - 95
- Paralian Wines Paralian 2023 Marmont Vineyard Grenache - 95
- Pannell Enoteca S.C. Pannell 2023 Basso Garnacha - 95
