Prodigal Grenache
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, slow-cooked pork belly
✨ Technical Specifications
The 'Prodigal' Grenache is a tribute to a grape variety that was once undervalued and widely pulled out of South Australia's vineyards, only to make a triumphant, 'prodigal' return to critical acclaim. Sourced from old, low-yielding bush vines in the Clare Valley, this wine highlights the cooler-climate nuances of the region. Unlike the hotter parts of South Australia, Clare Valley's elevated vineyards experience cool night breezes that preserve natural acidity and elegance in the Grenache grapes. Kilikanoon crafts this wine using traditional open fermenters and ages it in seasoned French oak hogsheads to ensure the bright, spicy red fruit characteristics remain front and center, complemented by earthy undertones and fine, structural tannins.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1997 by winemaker Kevin Mitchell alongside his viticulturist father Mort Mitchell, Kilikanoon has evolved into one of the Clare Valley’s definitive benchmark estates. Headquartered at an 1860s stone farmhouse in Penwortham, the estate commands access to premier vineyard parcels spanning diverse subregions, including Watervale, Leasingham, and Auburn. Altitudes range from 220 to over 600 meters above sea level, engendering dramatic diurnal shifts that preserve vital acidity and balance the Mediterranean sun. Kilikanoon champions sustainable farming across varied terroirs characterized by red terra rossa over limestone and slate-rich soils, most famously showcased in the ungrafted, dry-grown 1865 Attunga parcel. In the cellar, the winemaking philosophy pairs traditional fermentation techniques with precise maturation in French oak and unadorned vinification for aromatic whites. Revered for power paired with structural elegance, the estate's benchmark bottlings include the storied Attunga 1865 Shiraz, Oracle Shiraz, and the piercing, mineral-driven Mort's Reserve Watervale Riesling.
🍇 Grapes
Grenache
🍷 ABV
14.5%