Aphelion - From Strength to Strength
Rob and wife Louise are going from strength to strength from their McLaren Vale Base, with their suit of Grenache wines being ultra-impressive. It’s not all about Grenache though: other climate-appropriate varieties are thriving under the Aphelion label including their ‘Callow’ Grenache Blanc (it’s not often you hear us getting excited by Grenache Blanc) and their new Falanghina (a drought-resistant southern Italian variety).
Aphelion Brini Grenache 2023
What a difference 12 months makes? We tried this on release (nearly 12 months ago) and found it a bit angular and raw. A hard act to follow off the back of the remarkably good 2022. Well having revisited this recently, it's a different wine. It's really settled into itself with the stiff shoulders being replaced with gentle mouthfeel and seamless edges. It's far more complete: now being expressive and assured. Medium framed with ballooning aromatics of red cherry/glazed cherry, orange zest and slightly grainy tannin. This sits alongside a number of other straight Grenache wines from this part of the world which really contend to be the best in Australia. - Ches Cook, Five Way Cellars.
Aphelion 'Callow' Grenache Blanc 2024
Grenache Blanc from the Yangarra Vineyard. Pear, honeydew melon, some aromatic herbs and spice. It’s a gently chalky affair with some pithy bitterness, pear and again that perfume of herbs, a little bit waxy too, and finishes quite dry with grip and a slightly saline aftertaste. Nice wine. A textural style. 92 points. - Gary Walsh, Wine Front.
