Manser 100 Year Old Vines Reserve Grenache 2022 Review – A Grenache With Many Sides
Century-old vineyards carry weight in Australian wine; not every bottle shows that story with nuance. The Manser 100 Year Old Vines Reserve Grenache 2022 from Blewitt Springs draws on that heritage, unfolding with air, food, and attention. Not a Grenache of simple charm—layered, responsive, and quietly demanding.
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Vintage: |
2022 |
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Region: |
McLaren Vale, South Australia |
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Varietal: |
Grenache |
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ABV: |
14.7% |
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RRP: |
$60–$70 AUD |
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Format: |
750mL |
Appearance
Bright ruby with a transparent core and a gentle rim fade. Clarity is excellent, almost jewel-like in the glass. The legs fall at a measured pace, hinting at balance rather than weight.
Aroma / Nose
At rest, the nose leans savoury—spice and subtle oak setting the tone. With air, red-berry notes lift into a near-jammy register, while the oak recedes, acting as structure rather than statement.
Palate / Taste
The opening impression is a gentle, natural sweetness—never sugary—carried smoothly across the tongue. Red-berry richness fills the mid-palate, followed by a grip that gathers at the cheeks and gums without closing things down. Acidity keeps the line clean, while a subtle warmth trails through the chest, hinting at firmness beneath the generosity.
Finish
The finish is driven by acidity and warmth, with berry character and oak lingering in balance. Tannins leave a clear, dry imprint—defined, not assertive—giving the wine presence without heaviness.
Food Pairing
We opened the bottle over lunch, tasting through a spread of savoury bites before returning to it at dinner. Food consistently pulled the wine toward its firmer, more savoury side.
Edam pushed oak and tannin forward, with sweetness retreating to the edges.
Persian fetta (Melb Cheese Co) softened the profile, nudging the wine into a savoury, almost muted register.
Hummus on rosemary crackers sharpened the oak impression, with little fruit showing.
White bean and garlic dip further emphasised tannin and structure—interesting, but not its best angle.
Cold roast beef brisket heightened acidity and grip, stripping back generosity.
Across salty and umami-driven dishes, the wine consistently leaned firm and savoury; fattier roast elements softened its edges without pushing it toward sweetness.
Later that evening, alongside fried duck and roast potato, the wine shifted again. Oak took the lead, a brief sweetness appeared at the tip of the tongue, and the fruit lingered quietly in the background. More restrained, but still expressive—proof that time, temperature, and context continue to reshape it.
This is not a sweetly accommodating Grenache. At the table, it leans savoury and structural, with its most generous side showing when given space.
ATC Verdict: Is It Worth the Splurge?
This Grenache doesn’t settle on a single identity. At first, it offers sweetness of fruit, then folds into savoury oak before showing grip, acidity, and warmth in turn. It’s a wine with multiple sides, sometimes bright, sometimes structured, sometimes almost jammy, and that keeps the glass interesting.
We both enjoyed it, not as a one-note crowd pleaser, but as a wine that shifts and reshapes depending on food, air, and attention. Even later, with fried duck and potato, its character pivoted again; oak rising, sweetness at the front, fruit retreating to the back. It kept revealing new faces rather than repeating itself.
Would we drink it again? Yes.
Would we cellar it? Not essential, though a few years could be intriguing.
Was it worth opening? Without hesitation.
Not a simple Grenache—layered, responsive, and worth returning to.
Editor’s Note
We first opened the Manser 100 Year Old Vines Reserve Grenache 2022 over a relaxed weekend lunch, curious to see how a century-old vineyard would speak in the glass. What began as spice and structure gradually opened into balance and nuance. By the time we revisited it that evening, it had shifted again—less overt fruit, more shape and restraint. Some wines don’t announce themselves—they ask you to stay with them.
–Adrian – Editor at All That Is Cool
Please drink responsibly.
All alcohol reviews on All That Is Cool are intended for audiences aged 18+. We support mindful, moderate consumption and only feature bottles we’ve personally tasted and evaluated.
