96 Points - Marcus Ellis | 96 Points - Erin Larkin The family-owned Aphelion winery has established itself as one of the star wine producers of South Australia's McLaren Vale region. With a sharp focus on Grenache, the Aphelion Wait Grenache is part of their premium SV Grenache range. Grapes for the 2024 Aphelion Wait Grenache Noir were sourced from a single vineyard in the northeast corner of the Blewitt Springs area of McLaren Vale owned by the Wait family. Often the most structural and savoury wine in the range, this is brooding in character with earth and briary characters dominating the palate, with a nice savoury ede. Tannin is the most prominent of the three SV wines, it comes in waves and carries the savoury edge of the wine across the palate with great length. This wine will stand up to a rich food pairing and will benefit with time in the cellar. "96 Points. From the top block of bush vines on the Wait vineyard in Blewitt Springs, with vines back to the mid-1940s. These single-site grenache bottlings are quite different to the '23s, and that’s no surprise given the relatively warmer year, with a reflection of greater ripeness in the stems, or that’s how it seems. It’s brooding in a way, but also refined. Amaro herbs, preserved sour cherry, white pepper, a bastourma-like cured meat note, lingonberry, goji, dusky rose and a crackle of spice. This was picked on the earlier side, based on the final alcohol, giving a pleasing verve and linearity, though the fruit is impeccably ripe, and the site reflection bell clear. Excellent."- Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion. "96 Points. The 2024 Wait Single Site Grenache won't be released until late 2025, and the wine is showing notes of Campari and blood orange, raspberry seed and poached rhubarb. On the palate, this wine really shines, and it shows the power and succulence of the 2024 season. This has surprisingly low alcohol, but it works really well - the fruit and tannins feel ripe, despite this. It is almost an entire degree lower in alcohol than usual. 13.2% alcohol, sealed under Diam Origine. Rob Mack, winemaker/ proprietor of Aphelion in McLaren Vale is thoughtful, intelligent and quietly spoken, with an enduring respect for Grenache. This is the business that he has built with his wife Lou Mack. A graduate of the Len Evans Tutorial and a McLaren Vale local, Rob is an experienced wine show judge and a lover of Barolo and saké. Mack's wines tend to take on the delicacy and ethereal quality that both styles exhibit, and the inherent quality of McLaren Vale Grenache is well matched to his drinking proclivities. This is a small producer to watch out for."- Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate.
