One of the wines that put Charles Melton on the map, this play on the Châteauneuf-du-Pape style was one of the very first of its kind from this region. Dry farmed, old bush-vine Grenache forms the core, co-fermented with Shiraz, with just a few single-varietal tanks joining the blend later in the piece. A variety of techniques are used, including a proportion of whole bunch, de-stemmed and uncrushed fruit, plus a small batch of carbonic maceration Grenache, along with cool fermentation and gentle cap management. The wine is pressed to barrique (mostly French oak, up to 50% new each year depending on the vintage) and allowed to undergo malolactic in oak. The wine spends two years in these barrels on lees before settling and bottling.
2022
“It is likely that some of today’s younger wine lovers are not familiar with just how important this wine is in the overall scheme of Australian vinous history. Basically, by putting Grenache front and centre in this blend and trumpeting it, Charlie Melton removed a great deal of the stigma that the variety had lived with for many decades. Wine lovers, both locally and afar, began to realise that there was an awful lot more to the variety than just to act as a workhorse, filling in blends, bulk wine, making Rosé and fortifieds, and even being used in muffins (oh, the indignity). This was the wine which started the avalanche of GSMs and solo varietal Grenache from regions like the Barossa and McLaren Vale with which we are now blessed.
It is one thing to be the leader in a new trend. It is entirely different to remain at the forefront over the decades to follow. This wine has always been one of the best of its style. The colour is a dark crimson/purple. The wine is seamless, generous and superbly crafted, beautifully fragrant with the nose giving us notes of mocha, cassis, plums, chocolate and creamy red cherries. There is fine balance, sleek tannins, very serious length and the inevitable complexity is already emerging. A cracker. 15–20 years. Drink now–2045″ 97 points, The Vintage Journal 2026
2021
“I’ve mentioned previously that Charlie Melton’s Nine Popes was one of the first wines that made me fall in love with Barossa wines. I guess you could call it a regional classic and it remains one of my favourite wines from the Barossa. A blend of old-vine grenache, shiraz and mataro from Krondorf, Rowland Flat and Eden Valley. Perfumed red and dark plum fruits with raspberry pip and citrus blossom top notes. Hints of dried citrus rind, medina spice, rose petals, charcuterie, bath talc, pan juices, gentle oak spice and earth. It’s savoury and succulent at once with a sapid, briny energy and a sweep of sour morello cherries on the exit. So good.” 97 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
“Charmingly referencing Châteauneuf-du-Pape (in southeastern France) Nine Popes stands tall as one of the Barossa’s most characterful and complex wines. Matured in predominantly
25% new and seasoned French oak barriques, it perfectly combines the essence of each variety. The wine is characterised by exotic, musky, mulberry, plum, kirsch and game aromas, ripe yet vigorous tannins, and superb richness of fruit” Langtons Classification VIII
2019
Langtons Classification VIII
“Charlie Melton’s Nine Popes was one of the first wines that make me fall in love with Barossa wines, and it still makes me go all gooey-eyed. It’s old-vine grenache and shiraz aged for 27 months in French oak (50% new). Wonderfully fragrant red and dark plum fruits with high tones of raspberry coulis and orange blossom. Under the fruit lies layered spice and hints of red licorice, redcurrant jelly, roasting meats and earth. The fruit on the palate is pure and true, the tannins tight, powdery and fine and there is a lovely cadence to the acidity as it propels the wine forward. It’s still, and always has been, a joy to drink.” 97 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
“As every year passes, Nine Popes pops up and kicks a goal straight through the middle of the posts. This must be one of the most reliably top-class wines in the Barossa, and it is certainly the most admired GSM in the country. While competitors can be relied upon to drop the ball, cut corners or change their recipe, Nine Popes sticks to the finest fruit imaginable, 50% new oak for a couple of years, and the resulting wine never fails to seduce the senses. This 2019 is unusually calm, long and refined, and with incredible control and a savoury, long and classy finish, the future is a guaranteed success. I am often told that practice makes perfect – Nine Popes knows this more than most.” Matthew Jukes’ 100 Best Australian Wines 2025
2018
“Predominantly a blend ex bush vine Grenache and Shiraz; matured for 30 months on lees in 70% French/30% American barriques, 25% new. An extraordinarily complex bouquet of saddle leather, spice, glace cherry and plum, the palate following closely behind with a meaty (healthy) caste.” 96 points, James Halliday, Weekend Australian
