Grosset Gaia 2022

Product Information:

Winefront writer Campbell Mattinson pegged the 2022 Grosset Gaia as one of his top three Australian red wines of the year!

The 2022 Grosset Gaia comes from a cooler vintage, marked by impressive generosity and balance. Initially gentle on the nose, it reveals vibrant aromas of briary bramble berries, evolving into a brooding complexity with layers of earth and spice. The palate is satiny and tightly wound, displaying bright blackcurrant, dark liqueur cherry, blackberry, and bramble flavours. Deep, satisfying, and long, this wine leaves a lasting impression of finesse.

Produced from 100% estate-grown fruit, the blend comprises 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. The wine was matured exclusively in French oak barriques (45% new) for 18 months and bottled unfined. With its structure and balance, it will happily cellar for 30+ years.

Maker:

Grosset Wines is a renowned independent winery, dedicated to crafting seven exceptional premium wines with each vintage. By maintaining a small-scale, focused operation, Grosset has preserved the distinctive character of its wines, earning a stellar international reputation. Known for their purity and exceptional quality, these wines consistently set the standard in their respective categories.

For over three decades, Grosset has remained true to its philosophy: focusing on the purity of fruit and ensuring that every bottle delivers an unadulterated expression of the vineyard. The estate vineyards, certified organic by the ACO, are meticulously managed by hand, with grapes harvested at their optimal ripeness. Through disciplined practices and a deep well of knowledge accumulated over many years, Grosset Wines continues to deliver some of the finest expressions of Australian wine, with each bottle reflecting the unique terroir from which it originates.

The Vineyard:

The Grosset Gaia Vineyard, established in 1986 by Jeffrey Grosset, sits at an elevation of 560 metres, making it the highest vineyard in the Clare Valley. Spanning just two hectares, the Gaia vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, growing on rugged red rock and rocky outcrops that make vine cultivation particularly challenging. Vines are close-planted at 3,000 per hectare, with yields averaging just two kilograms per vine—resulting in fewer than two bottles of wine per vine.

The vineyard's rocky terrain, combined with its exposure to harsh winds, presents unique challenges but also contributes to the exceptional quality and consistency of the fruit. Grosset named the vineyard ‘Gaia’ after James Lovelock’s Gaia theory, which suggests that the Earth functions as a single, living organism. This philosophy of balance and ecological health deeply influences Grosset's viticultural practices, ensuring that the vineyard remains in harmony with its environment despite the challenges posed by changing conditions.

Nose - Fresh Picked Raspberries, Briar, Mint Perfume

There are fresh, youthful, almost raw aromas of raspberry, cassis, blackberry and briar, beautifully ripened.

Palate - Crunchy Blackcurrant and Dense Cassis
The depth and definition of crunchy blackcurrant and cassis fruit is monumental.

Finish - Mineral-Fine Tannin, Vibrant Acidity, Tobacco Savouriness
Fine-grained tannin, maybe some black olive and tobacco savoury things, and the finish is very long. It’s a wine of wonderful shape and control.

This exposed and extreme site in the upper reaches of Clare is characterised by Cabernet of concentration, varietal precision, structural confidence and grand longevity, and the cool 2022 season has only served to amplify all four dimensions. The depth and definition of crunchy blackcurrant and cassis fruit is monumental, and it is blessed with all the mineral-fine tannin, vibrant acidity and profound persistence to endure exceedingly long indeed. the essence of Cabernet, and of Gaia! - Tyson Stelzer, WBM, 97 Points.

Very deep and very bright young red-purple colour, that stains the glass. There are fresh, youthful, almost raw aromas of raspberry, cassis, blackberry and briar, beautifully ripened, the palate very concentrated, dense and full-bodied but not over- the-top. It's powerful, concentrated and backed by a welter of firm tannins, but doesn't sacrifice its elegance. This is a tightly packed, dense and focused cabernet that deserves a decent term in the cellar. It's just a baby today. - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 97 Points.

Blackcurrant, blackberry, maybe some redcurrant, a classic cigar box thing happening here, plus some violet and mint perfume. It’s medium-bodied, intense small berried dark fruit, aniseed, lovely crunch of acidity, tight fine-grained tannin, maybe some black olive and tobacco savoury things, and the finish is very long. It’s a wine of wonderful shape and control, and offers a compelling follow up to the superb 2021. And while it may be not quite as good, I’m happy to land on the same score. - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, 96 Points.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Country - Australia
Region - Clare Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14%