Reviews of 2024 Sand Road Grenache:
91 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, April 2026:
The latest suite of wines from Hither & Yon are one of those ‘all hits no misses’ kind of deals. There’s something in the waters there. Styled as a nouveau wine. From Sand Road vineyard, which one assumes is a sandy road, and therefore sandy vineyard. This is a soft, supple red of juicy, forest berry fruitiness, touches of vanilla, a lick of sweet earthiness, tomato leaf, blood orange. Bouquet and palate shake hands on this. So swishy and appealing in its fruit driven way, a no brainer for chucking in the fridge, happy on its own fireside too. Slosh, chomp, sashay. Alright!
95 points (Top Rank), Huon Hooke, The Real Review, December 2025:
Medium-deep red with a faint tint of purple; the aromas are shy and offer dried herb and dried cherry nuances with an overtone of dry earth. It's full bodied and firm, the tannins coating the mouth's interior and completing a seriously full-bodied, ample wine with abundant drying tannins and a sense of gravitas. This is good now and will reward some cellaring: 2025–2037.
93 points, Shanteh Wale, South Australian Wine Guide 2026, November 2025:
An enticing wine filled with toffee apple, cherry syrup and raspberry compote. A touch of bay leaf and sage. The palate delivers those welcoming red fruits in line with some astutely dry tannins that wash over the palate to reveal terra cotta, clay and hazelnut cream. It’s a magical concoction that invites you in with some red fruit confection but stands tall in its structured and tailored frame. A savvy wine and great value. Drink now-2030.
Reviews of 2023 Sand Road Grenache:
90 points, James Suckling, June 2025:
A juicy, fruity and easygoing grenache. Strawberries, bay leaves and baking spices on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with melty tannins. Playful and silky, with a fruity, crunchy finish. Drink now. Screw cap.
91 points, Angus Hughson, Vinous.com, April 2025:
This well-pitched 2023 Grenache starts off a little shy with gentle aromas of cooked cherries and dusty spices with older oak in play. Juicy and vibrant, it displays ample, fleshy red fruit and strong earthy tones, building to a finish of solid length. Drinking window: 2024-2028.
*Red Star Value. 93 Points, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, February 2025:
Sand Road vineyard, planted in '09 to alluvial sands, silty clay and gravel. Destemmed and open fermented at coolish temperatures for two weeks; raised in older French puncheons. Old vines are the buzz with grenache, and for good reason, but lovingly farmed young vines can also have striking results. And the Leask brothers do nothing if not farm well. Savouriness and tannin may not be the first thing to expect from younger vines, but here they are. Dried cranberry, wild raspberry, Earl Grey tea, dusty earth, baking spices. It hits mid-weight, with no sweet spot – a good thing. Rather, the fruit is wrapped up in a food-apt tensioning of chewy grip and clean acidity. Distinctive. Good.
92 points, SA Wine Guide 2025, Shanteh Wale:
Matured for 14 months in old French puncheons. A bright, pure ruby hue in the glass. Aromas of rosehip, red cherry and blood plum juice. A strawberry roll-up or two. Dried thyme and sage leaf. A cascade of elevated acidity and fine but powerfully dry tannins. This will wake up your taste buds and come alive with some fatty meats or a charcuterie board. Keep an eye on this site and wine; there is plenty of promise here. Particularly for the structure those gritty tannins give to the final product. For now, this is a steal at the price. Drink now–2027.
Reviews of 2022 Sand Road Grenache:
94 points, Decanter, David Sly, January 2024:
All high-toned cranberry over sunny cherry, but then slinky tannins pull a tight line. Texture and tone become the central focus before a pillow-soft landing. Great control and poise from this admirable, high-wire balancing act.
91 points, The Real Review, January 2024:
Medium-deep red-purple colour with a lift of volatile acidity which also comes through on the palate. Taut, firm, lean and a little austere. Intense, focused palate flavour. Probably not volatile enough to worry most drinkers but it would be better with less. It's quite a muscular wine which should have a solid cellaring future. A good decanting and aeration helps.
92 points, Winepilot, August 2023:
There’s always something special about McLaren Vale Grenache, and I enjoyed this one a lot. It’s bright and juicy (and particularly vibrant with food), showing lots of red and black fruits (wild strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, black cherry, stewed plums) and some spicy cinnamon and black pepper. Give it some time to breathe and it will express itself confidently, both on the first night and the second.
Tony Love, InDaily February 2023:
From the Leask brothers’ youngest Grenache vines at 13 years old, crafted into a youthful, fragrant, bistro style with 20% whole bunch influence in the winemaking that offers a subtle sappiness in the palate. While you are being seduced by its floral aromas and freshly squeezed plum and apple juiciness, you should pause for a mo, as it has plenty to offer in its textural game, lip-smacking and with an appealing spicy/peppery tannin profile in the palate and finish. Bistro, yes, and very food conscious as well – its own crew suggests pairing it with the vegetable and cheese pasty from the Willunga Bakery.
