A Barossa Valley Gem from One of Australia's Most Storied Old-Vine Estates

My Wine Man on Cirillo Estate

Cirillo Estate is one of the Barossa Valley's most remarkable and historically significant producers. The Cirillo family has been farming in the Barossa since 1850, and their estate is home to some of the oldest surviving Grenache vines in the world — ancient, gnarled bush vines that were planted in the 1850s and have never been replanted. These extraordinary old vines produce tiny yields of intensely concentrated, naturally complex fruit that cannot be replicated anywhere else on earth. The Vincent Grenache is named in honour of Marco Cirillo's grandfather, Vincent, and is made from 100% estate-grown Grenache from these heritage vines. It is a wine of profound depth, elegance, and historical significance — a living connection to the Barossa's pioneering past.

Tasting Notes

The 2018 Cirillo The Vincent Grenache pours a vibrant, translucent ruby with a crimson rim. The bouquet is fragrant and lifted — fresh red cherry, wild strawberry, and dried rose petal layered with subtle spice, dried herbs, and a whisper of aged oak. On the palate, the wine is silky and medium-bodied with the hallmark elegance of old-vine Grenache: pure, fine-grained tannins, a seamless natural acidity, and a long, savoury, mineral finish. This is Grenache of extraordinary refinement — more Burgundy than Barossa in its delicacy and precision.

Style & Drinking Window

Medium-bodied and supremely elegant, The Vincent is a Grenache that prioritises finesse, purity, and length over power. The ancient vine fruit delivers a natural concentration that needs no extraction or heavy oak — just careful winemaking and patience. Drinking beautifully now and will continue to develop through 2028. Serve slightly cool at 15–17°C and decant for 30 minutes to allow the aromatics to fully open.

Food Pairing

The silky texture, red fruit purity, and savoury complexity of the 2018 Cirillo The Vincent Grenache make it a wonderful match for Cape Grim Grass-Fed Rump Steak from My Meat Man. The wine's red cherry brightness and fine tannins complement the clean, mineral flavour of Cape Grim grass-fed beef beautifully — whether grilled over charcoal, pan-seared with rosemary and garlic, or served sliced with a simple red wine jus.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$168, the 2018 Cirillo The Vincent Grenache represents outstanding value for a wine made from some of the world's oldest surviving Grenache vines. Old-vine Barossa Grenache of this pedigree and provenance is increasingly sought after by collectors and sommeliers globally, yet remains significantly underpriced relative to its quality. This is a wine that punches well above its price point — elegant, historically significant, and utterly delicious.

Looking for a Different Style?

- 2019 John Duval Plexus Barossa Valley GSM — Barossa blend of depth and complexity from a Penfolds legend
- 2019 Teusner Avatar Grenache Mataro Shiraz — Barossa old-vine blend, rich and generously structured
- 2018 Henschke Johann's Garden GSM — Eden Valley elegance, fragrant and finely crafted