willunga

Mike Farmilo is a former maker of Penfolds Grange, St Henri and Bin 707 and twice winner of the Jimmy Watson Trophy. He has been making wine in McLaren Vale for over 30 years and is a legend of the industry...

A truncated bio for Mike reads as follows:

• Completed winemaking at Roseworthy in 1977
• Seaview winemaker in the 80s
• Worked for Angoves in the late 70s - including winning a trophy with a Riverland Riesling in 81
• In the late 80s Mike became Group Red winemaker for Penfolds/Southcorp – responsible for all Penfolds red wines including Grange and St Henri, Lindeman’s wines, Seppelt’s, Wynns and Leo Buring
• During his tenure with Penfolds/Southcorp Mike won at least one trophy at every capital city wine show every year and twice won the coveted Jimmy Watson trophy
• In the midst of all this Mike has also completed vintages in Germany, California, France

To celebrate International Grenache Day this year we opted to hold a bit of a Masterclass on what is quite possibly our favourite variety. We invited a few of our regulars along and figured we may as well get old mate, winemaker extraordinaire, Mike Farmilo (ex-Grange winemaker and 2 x Jimmy Watson winner) along to walk us through a few vintages of Willunga 100 Grenache in its various guises: their 'regular' Grenache - sour cherries,raspberries, savouriness and persistent length (in fact, I'm enjoying one right now as I type); their 'The Hundred' Grenache - completely unoaked, allowing the grape's natural sweetness and spice to shine through; and their 'The Tithing' Grenache - a premium offering which is lush and velvety. While we were setting up we had a quick chat to both Mike and Willunga 100's Sales Marketing Manager and all-round good fella, Nathan Hughes.

If only Ragnar, Floki and Rollo from Vikings could sit down around the fire, discuss their differences and share a horn full of Willunga 100 Grenache. Grenache you say? Would a potentially sweet, confected type of wine be suitable for the manliest of men? This isn’t your typical Grenache as it exists on more of a savoury, earthy, spicy realm. You can taste the bolder, blacker fruits in this fuller style and the spice and tobacco will smack you on the nose. Willunga 100 have taken parcels from a variety of vineyards in McLaren Vale to get a Grenache that is ready to be appreciated and drunk now. Bjorn Ironside would venture into the wilderness, slay a bear and celebrate with a horn full or two.

Born from three vineyards on the Willunga 100 property the 2010 Shiraz Viognier grabs a little bit from each site. Utilizing the tannins of the early ripening Hillside Vineyard, and blending it with the dark berry traits of their Mary’s Vineyard and the richness born from the Township Vineyard.  The guys at Willunga 100 have produced and a little gem if your patient enough.... On first bite at this sleeper I wasn’t that taken, true she had a nice deep colour with vibrant legs. There were also some dark berry notes followed by a faint pepper and cumin aroma. A little light on depth with a short finish though and I thought its nice dinner wine with friends that won’t offend anyone. Fast forward 24hrs and I had a wee revisit with her. How this little girl had changed. Deep maroon in colour with real violet legs with a decent pepper and spice trail on the nose. Ripe berry with the perfect hit of gaminess to round her out. It still won’t offend anyone; with a