Alkina house spotlight
Amelia Nolan is on camera in The Grape Nomad's Meet the Masters film from Alkina, the regenerative Greenock farm behind Old Quarter.
The market on this bottle
Wine-Searcher tracks this 2020 Old Quarter across the open market. Their published average is $81.29. Our slash is $39.
2020 Alkina Old Quarter Barossa Valley, Australia
Amelia Nolan's old-vine Greenock GSM, whole-bunch Grenache and powdery tannin, a 95-point Barossa at thirty-nine dollars.
Old Quarter is 60 percent Grenache with equal parts Shiraz and Mataro. Blue fruit, dried meat, clove, bark, and powdery tannin, now $39.
A Barossa GSM with vineyard detail, not just weight
The oldest six hectares at Alkina date to the early 1950s. Amelia Nolan ferments Grenache and Shiraz as 100 percent whole bunches in concrete tulips, destems the Mataro, then matures the blend 15 months across concrete and old oak. James Suckling 95. Wine Advocate 93-plus. Savory, intellectual, and complete.
The vineyard
Old Quarter is the historic core of the Greenock farm: 1950s vines, certified organic and biodynamic since 2018.
The wine
60% Grenache, 20% Shiraz, 20% Mataro. Whole-bunch Grenache and Shiraz, destemmed Mataro, 15 months concrete and old oak.
The scores
James Suckling 95. Wine Advocate 93-plus. Compact, savory, persistent.
The drinker
Serve 60 to 64 F. Decant 30 to 45 minutes. Lamb koftas or beef-cheek ragu.
Blue fruit, bark, and powdery tannin
Old Quarter is compact and full, but its detail comes from savory fruit, whole-bunch lift, and tannins that feel polished rather than heavy.
A serious Barossa red year at Greenock. Grenache leads. The wine is already open and still has a decade in front of it.
Blue fruit, red berries, bark, dried meat, clove, savory herbs.
Compact, powdery tannin, whole-bunch aromatic lift, 15 months concrete and old oak.
Long, savory, persistent. Serve 60 to 64 F. Decant 30 to 45 minutes.
Whole bunches in concrete, Mataro for depth
Amelia Nolan handpicks Grenache and Shiraz and ferments them separately with 100 percent whole bunches and wild yeast in concrete tulips. The Mataro is destemmed and fermented in a large oak vessel. After basket pressing, the components mature 15 months across concrete egg, old oak, and concrete tulip. Fine savory fruit, powdery tannin, persistence.
The blend is 60 percent Grenache, 20 percent Shiraz, 20 percent Mataro. Whole-bunch lift sits on a savory Mataro frame, not a new-oak costume.
Serve 60 to 64 F. Decant 30 to 45 minutes so clove, bark, and blue fruit settle into one line.
Moonlight, old vines, regenerative farming
Alkina is a 60-hectare farm near Greenock with 43 hectares planted. The name means moon or moonlight.
The oldest six hectares date to the early 1950s, a mature foundation under a modern cellar.
The original vineyard has been certified organic and biodynamic since 2018. That is method, not decoration.
Old Quarter is the estate's serious GSM: old vines, geology, and a blend that favors savory detail over Barossa weight.
Spice on lamb, depth on a braise
Lamb koftas amplify Grenache lift. Beef-cheek ragu leans into tannin and a long savory finish.
Two plates. One lamb kofta with yogurt. One slow-braised beef cheek ragu.
Serve at 60 to 64 F and decant for 30 to 45 minutes. The wine has enough fruit for spice and enough tannin for a long braise.
Lamb Koftas with Yogurt Sauce
Cumin, coriander, garlic, and grilled lamb connect with savory Mataro, dried-meat character, and clove.
Why it works: Rich lamb softens the tannins while cool yogurt preserves Grenache-led freshness.
View Recipe for Lamb Koftas with Yogurt Sauce (opens in a new tab)
Slow-Braised Beef Cheek Ragu with Pappardelle
Slow-braised beef cheek and a deep sauce mirror Old Quarter's concentration and polished tannic frame.
Why it works: The braise absorbs tannin while tomato, herbs, and red wine echo blue fruit and earthy detail.
View Recipe for Slow-Braised Beef Cheek Ragu (opens in a new tab)Open Old Quarter tonight
Amelia Nolan's old-vine GSM, James Suckling 95, savory and polished. Thirty-nine dollars.
Put it in the cart. This is Barossa authority without excess.
