The Consensus of Excellence

96, 96, 96, 96+, 95. Five independent reviews. Five respected Australian wine critics. One remarkable wine: the 2024 E. J. McDougall McLaren Vale Old Vine Grenache.

A Fine Wine Defined by Place

The 2024 E. J. McDougall McLaren Vale Old Vine Grenache has earned a rare level of critical consistency, with scores ranging from 95 to 96+ points across Robert Parker Wine Advocate, The Vintage Journal, The Australian Weekend Magazine, Halliday Wine Companion and The Real Review.

Erin Larkin of Robert Parker Wine Advocate was the first to review the wine, awarding 96 points and describing it as “a wine of place, first and foremost.” Four further independent assessments followed, each recognising the wine’s freshness, precision, texture and sense of origin.

Critical Scorecard

What the Critics Agree On

Despite approaching the wine independently, the critics consistently returned to the same defining characteristics: Blewitt Springs, old vines, sandy gravel soils, freshness, tension and restraint.

Erin Larkin highlighted its unmistakably Australian character and aromatic detail, while Andrew Caillard MW praised its supple, mineral structure and silky texture.

Nick Ryan focused on its “tension and energy,” reflecting the distinctive personality of Blewitt Springs. Marcus Ellis called the wine “exceptional,” noting its weightless depth and finely layered tannins. Huon Hooke described it as a “lovely wine indeed,” with the structure and freshness to develop beautifully over time.

Together, the reviews point to a Grenache that is not defined by power alone, but by precision, provenance and longevity.

From 1939 Vines to 2,952 Bottles

The wine comes from a single grand cru site in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, where vines were planted in 1939 on sandy gravel soils.

The fruit was hand harvested and optically sorted before whole-bunch fermentation in concrete vats. It then spent 11 months in seasoned French foudre, followed by 16 months in bottle before release.

Only 2,952 bottles were produced — the entire yield of this exceptional parcel.

Technical Record

• Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia
• Sub-region: Blewitt Springs
• Vines: Planted 1939
• Fermentation: Whole bunch in concrete vats
• Élevage: 11 months in seasoned French foudre
• Bottle maturation: 16 months
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Closure: Diam and wax
• Production: 2,952 bottles
• Drink window: 2026–2039
• Peak expression: 2029–2034

Why This Grenache Matters to Collectors

For collectors of fine Australian wine, the significance lies in the combination of provenance, old-vine material, limited production and independent critical recognition.

Five respected critics, reviewing the wine separately, have arrived at remarkably similar conclusions. That consistency provides something increasingly valuable in fine wine: a clear, independently validated sense of quality and place.

The 2024 E. J. McDougall McLaren Vale Old Vine Grenache is a wine made in very limited quantity, from vines approaching a century in age, with the structure and pedigree to reward cellaring.

A small parcel. An extraordinary history. A consensus of excellence.

Allocation

For collectors seeking access to the E. J. McDougall collection, allocation enquiries can be made through the official registration page:

Request an Allocation — E. J. McDougall

E. J. McDougall — Fine Wines of Australia

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E. J. McDougall Fine Wines of Australia