Hope Springs Eternal is a new project for Bondar, with the vision to produce great, elegant, age-worthy wine from vineyard sites we believe to be among the best for the variety in the region.
The first release includes a Grenache from the ancient white sands of Blewitt Springs and a Shiraz from the rugged and steep terrain of Clarendon. Both areas are further inland than Rayner, with elevated vineyards that experience large diurnal swings. Longer hang times and more moderate ripening deliver fruit of concentration, complexity and, critically, high natural acidity. From these sites, we get all the flavour and power of the region, but with beautiful tannins and a fine, elegant frame.
The name speaks to the relentless pursuit of excellence—the quiet optimism that drives us to chase perfection year after year, knowing it may always be just out of reach.
This is an exclusive pre-release offer of the Hope Springs Eternal wines. They will be available to the general public at $80 per bottle, but our VIP members' pricing is $60 per bottle (25% off the regular price).
This offer is for a short time only and stocks are very limited.
2023 Hope Springs Eternal Grenache - 96 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
"This is from 1952 plantings on the Trott Vineyard. 70% whole bunch. Ten months in anfora and one seasoned 600L Stockinger barrel. Nice. That’s the way you do it. 778 bottles produced. We have reviewed 66 McLaren Vale Grenache wines from the 2023 vintage – HERE – and this sits near the top.
Here we have rosehip and Earl Grey tea, dusty spices, blackcurrant and raspberry, mint and thyme, hazelnut paste, something stony with a waft of petrichor. Medium-bodied at most, spicy, a pomegranate tang through a dark fruit profile, crushed stone tannin, orange peel, something of a Barbaresco thing happening here too (again, don’t mind me), with a peppery and dusty finish of excellent length. Wonderful wine. Beautifully made. Specific."
2023 Hope Springs Eternal Shiraz - 95 points - The Real Review
"Dark, plummy red in the glass. Fragrant and lifted aromas of spice, bramble, earth, charcuterie, sarsaparilla, blueberry, forest floor and an earthy woodsiness. Full-bodied, punchy and crunchy on the palate. Blue and dark fruits, snappy acidity, granular, grippy tannins and sappy spice are all at play. Long, textured, layered and complex."
