2024 Polygon No. 5 Magnum
Polygon No. 5 presents a more delicate personality in 2024. Of course it is darker, more brooding and a touch deeper than Polygon No. 3 (on limestone), and it has the combination of schist and iron-rich clay within the fractures to thank for this. Blood orange, plum and dark cherry provide a juicy core, around which rises a vertical scaffold of fresh and firm schist tannin. Tense and nervy, the 2024 combines lightness of colour with surprising depth and structure, hinting at a long life ahead.
Estate grown and made
Certified organic and biodynamic fruit
[VARIETIES] 100% Grenache
[ALC] 13.5%
[PRODUCTION] 890 bottles
[CELLARING] 10+ years
The 2024 Polygon 5 Grenache is grown in the same vineyard block as the Polygon 3 Grenache (grown on a pocket of limestone), so it really highlights the distinction between the two. The vines here are 70 years old and grown on a schist soil profile, with weathered clay. This imbues the wine with density and power. It is more darkly colored in the glass. This was bottled nine months earlier than the Polygon 3, on account of it looking very ready, while the coiled limestone wine needed to be in the concrete for longer. Aromatically, this is immediately plusher, richer and more succulent than the Polygon 3 tasted alongside. Here we have dark fruit, pomegranate, satsuma plum and sweet fruit on the palate, and it is shaped by attractive sandy tannins. This is softer and plusher than the Polygon 3, though in the context of Grenache, it remains elegant and fine. This is fascinating stuff, as usual. I love the tannins. I think this will be a gorgeous drink earlier than the Polygon 3, but both will age exceptionally well. 890 bottles filled. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.
97/100 Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Polygon No. 5 consists of two parcels making up 0.37ha; 75% whole bunch and fermented in a 1.7kL tulip with 19 days on skins followed by maturation in a 1.2kL tulip. There's a slightly deeper fruit profile here with a touch of red plum, wild strawberry and raspberry with hints of exotic spice, Campari, dried meats, dried citrus rind, blossom top notes, rose petals and crushed schist. There's a kinetic pan of horizontal chalky tannins that flares out behind that beautiful fruit and a feeling of expansiveness to the wine shape, with a murmur of clove and star anise. A little more robust, savoury and a slightly wider acid profile than the Block 3 initially but it lightens in the glass, that finish drawing out nicely.
96+/100 Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
Slightly darker than the Polygon 3 and also smells a little darker-fruited. Another super-subtle wine with a little hint of (attractive) peppery reduction. Tannins slightly firmer than in Polygon 3; dry with great textural elegance. Darker, quite reserved. Goes on and on.
17.5/20 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com
