2023 Polygon No. 3 Magnum
A haunting and ethereal wine with vibrant and high toned aromatics. Notes of orange blossom, lemon verbena and white pepper surround appealing red fruit. A wine full of tiny, fleeting moments. The palate is seamlessly integrated with mineral edges, intense fruit, fresh herbs and distinctly limestone-derived powdery tannin.
Estate grown and made
Certified organic and biodynamic fruit
[VARIETIES] 100% Grenache
[ALC] 14%
[PRODUCTION] 795 bottles
[CELLARING] 10+ years
The 2023 Polygon 3 Grenache is grown on a patch (0.27 hectares) of chalky white limestone. The mother rock is schist, devoid of clay (i.e., no iron); only 5% of the western side of the property has these soils. Aromatically, the wine is red-fruited and ultra fine, with crushed rocks and dried flowers, delicate dried herbs and saline acidity. Flavors include fresh watermelon, pink peppercorn, dried mint and a persuasion of amaro-esque herbs. There's an alpine quality here. The wine has an electricity and energy on the palate, which makes for moreish drinking. Chalky tannins shape the palate and finish and linger long after the fruit has receded. The acidity has not been adjusted, and it feels astoundingly fresh and vibrant, despite being at 14% alcohol. Sealed under natural cork. 756 bottles filled.
96 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Refined, floral and perfumed aromas of raspberry coulis, cherry confit, blood oranges, white pepper and potpourri. The palate has a tightly wound tannin profile with a medium-bodied mouthfeel and focused acidity. Made from 70-year-old vines grown on limestone soil, with 80% whole-cluster fermentation, and then it’s aged in concrete, which brings a fine-grained texture and tactile finish of bright and juicy red fruit. Drink or hold.
96 Points, Ryan Montgomery, jamessuckling.com
Slightly deeper colour than the Polygon 22 Grenache but still light in colour. Subtle in the extreme, almost teasing – makes me want to chase the aroma to get to the heart of it. An overlay of crushed chalk on sour/tangy red fruits, more cranberry than strawberry. Incredibly fine tannins, the whole is arresting in its purity and dry finesse. A step up from Polygon 22 even if the soils are similar. Extremely fresh without notably high acidity and beautifully balanced between tannic refinement and vibrant fruit. More complex and a little deeper than Polygon 22. More precise as it draws out to a very long finish.
18/20 Points, Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neat, aromatic. Lively, pure fruit that elevates Grenache to something rather ethereal.
17.5/20 Points, Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com
Light-medium depth of bright red-purple colour; fresh and aerial, perfumed aromas, raspberry and rose petals, traces of spices—pepper, ginger and star anise—while the palate is elegant and medium bodied at the most, with gentle, fine-grained tannins and lovely line and length. A refined, superfine and elegant grenache. It's all about elegance, subtlety and perfume rather than power or grunt. Beautiful wine. The lightest of the three 2023 Polygon grenaches.
95 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review