Spinifex Tabor 2009

Description

‘Pete and his partner Magali Gely operate what I think is the best new-wave of small-scale Barossa wine companies to emerge at the beginning of the 21st century… These weren’t big, blockbuster, showy wines designed to impress. They were wines that managed to take the best of the Barossa’s sometimes forgotten varietal traditions and fuse them onto a very European flavour sensibility.’ Max Allen, The future makers

‘It seems that Spinifex wines can do no wrong.‘ Campbell Mattinson

“Wow what an impressive newcomer this is, owned by New Zealand-born Peter Schell and French-born wife Magali Gely. After graduation from Roseworthy they worked for four vintages in the south of France, and when they established Spinifex, it was only natural to focus on Mourvèdre, Grenache, Shiraz and Cinsault. Great wine and immaculate packaging is a heady mixture… So far as I am concerned Spinifex out-Torbrecks Torbreck.”  James Halliday

94 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front   “2009 sees the return of Tabor. Sounds like an Arnie film circa Conan. Anyway, this is the 100% Mataro from winemaker Pete Schell. Meaty, gamey, feral aromatics, with a little ironstone and something earthy. The palate feels, lively and light, surprising for the inherent concentration; a welcome anomaly. Fresh red berries follow with hot spice and bitter herbs, then forest berries – it flows. It has a formed, slippery feel but there is chiaroscuro of fruit, spice and acidity throughout the wine. Savoury, then tobacco and earthy notes finish the wine with a sprinkle of pepper for good measure. Throws interesting shapes, drinks superbly, will live for a while too.”

96 points. Nick Stock, Good Wine Guide, 2012.  “A single-site Mataro that is a very grounded and composed young wine: dark plums, some cassis, orange zest, dry loamy, earthly aromas and wild herbs too. The palate’s nicely laced up with a core or red- and purple-berry fruits – very smooth – and lazy tannins, laid-back, soft and even, and gently nutty through the finish. Plenty of charm and concentration here. ”