Description
This is just the second Teusner Mataro to make it to this top-level – the first being from 2006. The fruit derives from an old “fruit salad” (mixed planting) vineyard in the Marananga sub-region. Planted in the 1930’s on red-brown loams over clay, the 0.3ha Roennfeldt Dirks Block vineyard lies in a fairly flat section with a north-south orientation. The Teusner boys noticed about every fourth vine had slightly different coloured leaves and stood up straighter than the others and these vines turned out to be Mataro. The Roennfeldt family now hand pick these vines separately for Kym and Michael. The fruit goes through fermentation in open-vats before being aged for two years in oak – 30% new (50% French/50% American).
96 points from Gary Walsh The Wine Front .. “Great to see Mataro/Mourvedre/Monastrell being given the respect it deserves. It takes old vines and low yields, but there’s a strong argument to be put forward that it’s the Barossa’s best and most expressive grape. 100 dozen made. Pwhooar – there’s plenty going on here for such a young wine – earth, bitter chocolate and peel, liquorice, minor coffee oak, blood plum etc. It’s a big wine but it’s not a heavy one and shows no sign of alcohol heat or awkwardness – expressive and balanced with perfect acidity and fine tannins that came up and made themselves known only after a day. Long finish with a twist of dried herb and bitter chocolate so typical of the variety. Just terrific.”
96 points Nick Stock Good Wine Guide 2012 … “It’s no secret that Teusner and Mataro are great mates, and this ultra-dark and ripe hero in their range is an impressive wine indeed. It carries aromas of seaweed, iodine and dark plums, blackened roasting herbs, some liquorice and a wealth of sweet earth and spice. The palate adds a peppery edge to the mix, with the same wealth of black fruits. Deeply ripe and juicy tannins scoop through with impressive depth and length, finishing spicy and exotic. The pick of the three Righteous wines, for sure.”
94 points James Halliday “deep, dense purple-red heralds a massively full-bodied mataro, with strong black fruits, tar, earth and a touch of bitter chocolate; while the overall extract is extreme, the tannins are in balance; will outlive its cork by decades.” RRP $150
