On Thursday 7th October 2010 the Vine Press will host Vino Argentino!
Purity of light, clean air, high elevation and the back drop of the Andes set Argentine wine apart from every other wine producing nation. Argentina is the world’s 5th largest wine producer with a proud tradition dating back to the 1550’s. The wine growing…
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On the 18th August 2010 we held a special wine tasting of Harewood Estate Wines. We were thrilled to have James Kellie, Harewood's winemaker join us and guide us through his fantastic range of wines. James Kellie cut his teeth at Howard Park before he and his family purchased the Harewood vineyard in 2003. Hard…
Spinifex Papillon 2008 received 91 points from James Halliday in his 2010 Australian Wine Companion. He wrote: "Certainly a fun-time wine; bright and juicy with appealing spice and a strong sense of red and blue fruit; lively, almost squeaky, acidity provides a juicy and lifted finish to the wine. Grenache/Cinsaut/Mataro/Shiraz. 91 points."
Spinifex Esprit 2007 has received 94 points from James Halliday in his influential guide the 2010 Australian Wine Companion. He wrote: "Good colour; clearly defined raspberry fruit is backed seamlessly by spicy shiraz, and meaty mataro; the palate is lively, and exhibits pronounced perfume; tightly focused and very inviting on the juicy finish. Shiraz/Grenache/Mataro/Carignan/Cinsaut. 94 points."
Back in 2008 The Adelaide Review named Spinifex Indigene 2006 its Wine of the Year in its annual Top 100 list. Such a great wine, let it be said... but since then the Indigene 2008 has appeared and well, its equally as impressive.
However, here's what The Adelaide Review said of the 2006: "When choosing the wine of the year, this had secured a finals berth from the very outset. Tasted over two days judging, the more it was assessed the more it impressed; a flawless performance, beautifully assembled, youthful and full of promise. Bright fragrance, fine spices and earthy dark fruits. The tannins start out fine and light, building weight in layers and played beautifully against acidity, delivering deceptive richness and faultless balance. Dark fruits smoulder long through the finish on a savoury chord. Shiraz and mataro combine to show the essence of all that is unique and venerable about the Barossa. This takes South Australian wine to brave new heights!"
Spinifex Wines from the Barossa Valley received the coveted Red 5 star rating in James Halliday's definitive guide to the Australian Wine Industry in his 2010 Australian Wine Companion.
Here's what he said "Peter Schell and Magali Gely are a husband and wife team from NZ who came to Australia in the early 1990s to study oenology and marketing, respectively, at Roseworthy College. Together they have spent four vintages making wine in France, mainly in the south where Magali’s family were vignerons for generations near Montpellier. The focus at Spinifex is the red varieties that dominate in the south of France: mataro (more correctly mourvedre), grenache, shiraz and cinsaut. The wine is made in open fermenters, basket-pressed, partial wild (indigenous) fermentations, and relatively long post-ferment maceration. This is at once a very old approach, but nowadays à la mode. The wines are made at Spinifex’s winery in Vine Vale, where Peter also makes wines for a number of clients to whom he consults. So far as I am concerned Spinifex out-Torbrecks Torbreck. Exports to the UK, the US, Canada, Belgium, Taiwan and Singapore. 5 red stars". James Halliday.
Spinifex Wines from the Barossa Valley continue to receive amazing press for their wines. Last year they received the honour of being named by the influential Penguin Wine Guide as Winery of the Year and Wine of the Year for their Esprit 2006. Writer Nick Stock had this to say: "I like this wine. A lot. In fact, of the 6000-odd wines I tasted for the Penguin Wine Guide this year, I awarded this the Wine of the Year. I also awarded Spinifex Winery of the Year in the same book. Earlier in the year I crowned the couple behind the project, Pete Schell and Magali Gely, with the 2008 Young Gun of Wine Award. Then, just recently in the Adelaide Review Hot 100, line honours and Wine of the Year went to another of their wines, the 2006 Indigene. I'm not going to describe the 2006 Esprit; it's a genius blended red with more style, personality and soul than 100 others all put together. Buy it while you can! 96 points"
Spinifex Papillon 2008 received a great rave from prominent wine writer Campbell Mattinson in his Big Red Wine Book. He wrote: "It’s Grenache dominant, so there’s a sense of light sweetness to it but, gee, it’s easy to be mighty impressed with this. It tastes of red dirt and raspberry, licorice and ink, and it has structure and flavour and deliciousness down pat. We love this kind of wine, so it’s pandering to us — but pander on, Papillon! 92 points. 5 stars". Campbell Mattinson.
Spinifex Esprit is a superb red blend from one of Australia's top young gun producers. Campbell Mattinson in his "Big Red Wine Book" said this of Spinifex Wines and their Esprit label: "Spinifex is one of the Barossa Valley’s hottest producers, and yet the prices are still sane. This is a mob worth supporting 100 per cent. The Esprit is a blend of grenache, mourvedre and shiraz, and if you like this blend in any way then Spinifex’s Esprit is a must. It is true to the style and yet it has a style all of its own - if that makes sense - and it doesn’t get carried away with excessively high alcohol. "
Of the Spinifex 2006 release he said this: "In great form. Remarkably complex for a young wine. Tastes of earth and minerals, raspberry, violets and leather with toasty, cedary oak tucked well behind the frost flavours. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.94 points" I love what he said of the 2007 release - couldn't agree more! " Another cracking release. We’re not even going to bother describing it — you just have to grab some. It’ll make you a better person. It’s sophisticated! It has structure and class and complexity, and it’s bright and savoury and ripe. Now, why are you still reading this? You should be on your way to the shop already" 95 points" Campbell Mattinson
Spinifex Wines from the Barossa are receiving raves from every wine writer at the moment. Here's another "It seems that Spinifex wines can do no wrong. Funny thing is that I took a while to be convinced of the Spinifex mastery … but I’m well and truly on board now." Campbell Mattinson, Big Red Wine Book 2010.
Don't just take his word for it... come to our next tasting showcasing all Spinifex has to offer, on May 20th in Sydney's CBD. Check out our Events page for more details.
