When making The SG for the first time, we had a lot of fun exploring the process. Taking every mismatched wine glass out of the cupboard, we made up various blends in a 100ml measuring cylinder, tasted, and landed on a 55/45 blend of Shiraz to Grenache.
A year or so later, it was time to repeat the process. Making the sequel meant not just making a good, standalone wine, but making it as good as or better than the original SG while staying true to the style.
During my very first days as a ‘wine industry professional’ (I worked in a bottle shop), I attended a few days of face-to-face training. Learning about various wines, styles and regions, the trainer described vintage variations as “Making a chocolate cake every year with different ingredients”. The 2022 SG is a 60/40 blend of Shiraz to Grenache, making best use of the ingredients to turn out a tasty chocolate cake.
Don’t just take our word for it. Ken Gargett of Wine Pilot reviewed the wine thusly, and scored it 93 points – noice!
Reviews
93 points – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
Each year, this is the wine that seems to poke its nose ahead of the pack and this vintage is no different. One would be forgiven for assuming that naming a Barossan Shiraz Grenache ‘SG’, would be to reflect the varieties in the blend, but it is not so. It is named in honour of Sarah Gregory, one half of Genista. A dark purple hue, the wine has generous and comforting notes of chocolate and warm earth, with dried herbs, mulberries, aniseed and soy supported by a supple texture with very fine tannins. The wine exhibits both balance and intensity with impressive length. Enjoy over the next four to six years.
Drink by: 2024-2030
93 points – Brendan Black, Wine Pilot
This is an enticing blend of Shiraz and Grenache, named in honour of Sarah Gregory, who’s one-half of the Genista label. With two years in bottle now, the SG is starting to show some aged development, but it still has one foot firmly in the primary realm, with lots of blackcurrant, raspberry, black cherry, vanilla, earth, graphite and game. The palate is rich and rewarding, and the alcohol is hidden well behind layers of flavour. With a bit more time in bottle, I think it will be even better.