Larry Cherubino Uovo Grenache 2023 - In Bond

Stuart McCloskey, tasted 2 July 2026 "We may have been waiting eight months for this beauty to arrive, but it has been worth every single day.

I gave the bottle forty minutes in the fridge before sampling. There's absolutely no need to decant. Simply pour a glass and let the wine reveal itself as it slowly moves through the temperature gears. In fact, I found it at its most compelling on the cooler side, where every nuance is amplified.

From the first swirl, this is a Grenache that will have serious Pinot Noir lovers purring with delight while reminding Grenache devotees just how breathtakingly refined the variety can be. The perfume is simply irresistible. Wild strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, blood orange, rose petal, pomegranate and a whisper of exotic spice rise effortlessly from the glass with remarkable purity and lift. There is an almost Burgundian sense of fragrance that draws you back again and again.

The palate is where Larry Cherubino's UOVO philosophy truly comes into focus and excites me the most. Fermented and matured in the estate's signature clay-cement ovoids, the wine develops naturally without oak influence. The constant, gentle circulation of the lees builds texture from within, creating a palate that is both silky and energetic, generous yet incredibly precise. Nothing feels forced or manipulated. Every element seems to fall effortlessly into place.

The tannins are feather-fine, the acidity beautifully judged, and the finish carries for minutes rather than seconds. There is tremendous flavour concentration, yet the wine never feels heavy. Instead, it dances - light on its feet, incredibly poised and utterly captivating. That said, there is a wholesome feel to the flavour and palate weight. 

This is not a Grenache built on rusticity, as so many can be. This is built on finesse, perfume, sublime texture, and irresistible drinkability. Don't mistake that elegance for restraint - this is no shrinking violet. The flavour intensity is extraordinary - packed to the rafters yet delivered with astonishing composure. Every flavour glides across the palate with balletic cadence, combining power with grace in a way that very few wines manage (certainly, not this varietal). It is, quite simply, beautiful.

One final observation. If you love fine Pinot Noir, don't dismiss this because it says Grenache on the label. Some wines transcend varietal stereotypes. This is one of them. Equally, if you're already a Grenache enthusiast, this represents one of the most complete Australian expressions you'll encounter. Larry Cherubino has crafted something genuinely special…

Sensational to drink today, yet I have little doubt this will cellar effortlessly for a decade. Personally, I won't be waiting that long. I'll be happily enjoying mine over the next five years or so, while its glorious perfume and primary fruit remains centre stage. Truly sensational. Served using Zalto Burgundy stemware…"

97 Points - Erin Larkin “I tasted this 2023 Uovo Grenache in a flight of South Australian—specifically McLaren Vale—Grenache, in part because it fit better there than in any other category but also because context is everything. Any chance for more or improved perspective, I go for it. The wine is sensational. It does what so many of the other wines promise, in that it gives intense fruit that feels light on its feet, a profusion of tannin that both shapes and defines the wine and length of flavor that allows us to see—to truly see—what else is going on here. In the past six or seven years, Frankland River has revealed itself to be a formidable Grenache region, and I wait with bated breath for more brave people to plant and perfect this wonderful variety in this impressive pocket of southern Western Australia. Whatever the preamble, the wine is elegant, powdery, fresh, detailed and exciting, and it comes warmly recommended.”

97 Points - Ray Jordan “If ever a variety was made for this type of winemaking using the giant egg ovoid to create a vortex of lees movement, then grenache is the one. And in this vintage, it has created something extra special. Bright florals on the nose with a beautifully medium to full-bodied voluptuous palate structure. It’s a wine of vibrancy and energy, evident from the outset. Pure and pretty palate. Cellar for 10-years.”