Spinifex Tabor Mataro 2009

Again the conditions in 2009 were fine enough to re-introduce Tabor back to the Spinifex fold (the last release was 2004). Mourvedre seems to love a base of sandy loam and this comes, chiefly, from the Tabor old vine parcel nestled in the foothills, east of Tanuda. Spending two weeks on skins after a 40% bunch crush on stems, has resulted in a complex mesh of vivid, spice-driven Mourvedre fruit, earthy complexity and lithe tannins. There are glowing notes of brown spice with darker liquorice too on the nose. As with its fine stalemates above, the natural balance on the palate is testament to an excellent vintage and intuitive, unassuming winemaking. The quality here, again, is there for all to taste. A wonderfully driven and energetic wine that will again remind drinkers of what this variety is capable of from the right sites and makers. The vintage suited the innate strengths of the variety adding abundant spice and texture, in a way that caught Pete Schell's attention. "Getting Mataro with this kind of completeness is not all that common, so I wanted to showcase that as a separate expression," he says.

Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley