Massena Vineyards Stonegarden Eden Valley Grenache 2018

Part of the elite group of wineries in the ‘Artisans of the Barossa’ cellar door, Jaysen Collins’ label Massena is a force to be reckoned with. After leaving his job at industry big dog Turkey Flat Jaysen started Massena in 2000 along with Dan Standish to produce wines that are in their own words “true to the Barossa style, being rich, warm and generous.”

Jaysen now makes all the wines himself, focusing on old vines in great vineyards and the range has gone from strength to strength. Jaysen Collins makes a small but very high quality range of wines from the famed Stonegarden vineyard in the Eden Valley.

Plantings on this sacred site stretch back into the 1800s. These old warhorse vines yield some of South Australia's most sought-after fruit. Jaysen takes very good care of his portion of old vine Grenache.

It's a powerhouse wine yet not overdone. The beautiful aromatics and firm minerality that is characteristic of the vineyard shines through in every drop. Vines this old always reveal something unique about themselves, for Stonegarden it's the flourish through the finish that you will remember. This is a beautiful wine, put together immaculately. It will continue to evolve in the cellar for many years to come.

"Old bushvines planted in 1857 prove they still have the X-factor. One batch of fruit destemmed and popped into a ceramic egg on skins for several months (not specified) then into used puncheons; the second batch, whole-bunch fermented in used puncheons. Happy to report this is a sterling drink. It has poise, incredibly velvety tannins, a suppleness and beautiful fruit, which is the very heart of this wine. James Halliday 95 Points"