Atlas Grenache

Atlas Grenache 2022 from Atlas Wines in the Clare Valley is a bright, juicy old‑vine Grenache with loads of fragrant red fruit and spice, built in a modern, medium‑bodied style that’s all about purity and drinkability. Made from hand‑picked grapes off 80‑year‑old bush vines on terra rossa over limestone at a unique Leasingham site, Atlas Clare Valley Grenache 2022 shows lifted aromatics of strawberry, violets and cinnamon, with fresh raspberries, sour cherries, ripe strawberries and hints of Provençal herbs and green herbs on the nose. On the palate it’s juicy and vibrant, with cherry, raspberry licorice and a touch of green olive and sage, carried by soft, fine tannins and bright acidity that keep it feeling super‑gluggable yet nicely structured.

For food, Atlas Grenache 2022 is a ripper with char‑grilled lamb chops, herb‑rubbed chicken or pork sausages straight off the barbie – that red‑fruit core and gentle spice slot in perfectly with smoky, savoury flavours. It’s also excellent with pizza, tomato‑based pasta, tapas or a simple plate of cured meats and semi‑hard cheeses, where its medium body and fresh acidity let it flex across lots of casual dishes. Serve it just below room temperature so the fruit stays bright and the floral lift really pops.

Atlas Clare Valley Grenache 2022 benefits from minimal handling – wild ferments, whole berries, a touch of whole bunch, basket pressing and short maturation in seasoned oak – giving a wine that tastes honest, detailed and thoroughly modern. It’s priced keenly and sits as one of Atlas’s go‑to reds for showcasing Clare Grenache, with solid critical recognition and a reputation for offering excellent value in the category of bright, mid‑weight Australian Grenache. If you’re chasing a juicy, characterful Grenache that works both midweek and with friends around the table, Atlas Grenache 2022 is well worth a spot in the rack.