The wines of Jeffrey Grosset, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills

xJeffrey Grosset’s name is synonymous with the Clare Valley in South Australia, and with the Riesling grape in particular. Established in 1981 about 100 kilometres north of Adelaide, Grosset’s Clare Valley Rieslings are made from 100% estate-grown fruit, whilst vineyards in the Adelaide Hills supply grapes – mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – for other cuvées. Back in the Clare, the Gaia vineyard at 570 metres is the highest point in the valley, and is the source of grapes for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc-based blend that carries its name.

The wines

Liberty Wines are the UK agents for Grosset. See all stockists on wine-searcher.com.

Jeffrey Grosset, Clare Valley Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, 2008
Abv 13.00. Screwcap. Lovely, punchy, tropical character and plenty of lime fruit. Really crunchy, vibrant green fruit. Fabulous clarity and precision. 89/100

Jeffrey Grosset, Springvale ‘Watervale’ Clare Valley Riesling 2008
Abv 13.00. Screwcap. Really crunchy, clear fruit, with a definite minerality and little stony and wax notes. There’s a delicate edge of florality, but then onto the palate this is incisive stuff. Searing core of lime and taut minerality into a long finish. 92/100

Jeffrey Grosset, ‘Polish Hill’ Clare Valley Riesling, 2008
Abv 12.50. Screwcap. Leafy, plenty of waxy notes and a touch of lime blossom, more more reserved and tight. The palate fills with lemon and lime fruit, but quite rounded and full before that decisive core of lean, limey acidity powers through. For cellaring. 91/100

Jeffrey Grosset, ‘Piccadilly’ Chardonnay, 2006
Abv 14.00. Screwcap. Big, buttery toast and hazelnut nose, with plenty of powerful oak and cool orchard fruits beneath. The palate has terrific acidity – and real freshness to the fruit. It is a lovely style, with the toast and nutty warmth of the oak braced against ripe but cool fruit and fine acidity. 91/100

Jeffrey Grosset, Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir, 2007
Abv 14.00. Screwcap. Cool, restrained, slightly leafy fruit with touches of cranberry and redcurrant. The palate bursts into life with great precision of fruit, and a charry backing from cedary oak. Again, fairly lean in the Grosset style, but long and beaurifully balanced. 90/100

Jeffrey Grosset, ‘Gaia’ Clare Valley, 2005
Abv 13.50. Screwcap. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Slighy leafy, damp woodland note, with cedar and muted black fruit. On the palate the ripeness of the fruit comes through much more powerfully, with a really sweet edge to blafckcurrant and bitter plumskins. Cedary oak and good acidity. 90/100

Jeffrey Grosset, ‘Gaia’ Clare Valley, 2002
Abv 14.00. Screwcap. Much more sweetly resolved nose. Touches of fudge and chocolate to sweet black fruit. On the palate a lovely juicy quality, with fine fruit and nicely resolved tannins and acidity. Good length and a succulent character. 92/100

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *