Name: Spinifex Moppa Shiraz 2022
SKU: 11284
Availability: InStock

Description

Peter Schell and his French born wife Magali Gely started Spinifex back in 2001 – in a short time they have made a name for themselves as producers of fine elegant and sophisticated Barossa red blends. Peter hails from NZ originally but he and Magali are firm Barossaphiles with a great love of the ancient Barossa soils (100 million years old whereas in Bordeaux the soils date back to the last iceage 40,000-100,000 years) and the old vines. Inspired by time spent working many vintages in the south of France their love is the local varieties there – Mataro, Grenache, Shiraz and Cinsault. What sets them apart is their attention to detail and total hands on winemaking.

They are not interested in making blockbuster wines – they seek finesse and complexity (aromatics, line and length) in their wines…Sourcing small parcels of fruit from small family growers and their use of multiple small fermentation tanks allows them to ferment small parcels separately rather than pooling them – a very French technique – which means more ingredients to play with and absolute precision for blending.

‘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, The Wine Front.

About this wine: This highland vineyard in the northwest of the Barossa Valley has been producing exceptional Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro for Spinifex since 2005. Although the exact age of the vineyard is unknown, it is thought to be at least 80 years old. For the last 40 years, it has been managed organically by the grower who grew up on the block and clearly has the utmost respect for his vines.

Again, Pete Schell’s mastery of balance is on full display here. How does he do it? Tamed Barossa power is countered by pitch-perfect weight, refined structure and acidity and a lingering, flavour-drenched finish. Some 30% bunches add to the attractive spice, and long aging in French puncheons and barriques has given long, pliant tannins to frame the fantastic quality of pure, juicy black fruit. This is stellar stuff from Spinifex—modern Barossa at its very finest.

95 points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review “Ink black core to a deep purple rim. Blood plum, ironstone and crushed violets on the nose. Dense, powerful and driven, dark fruits and black pepper spices all singing across the palate with fine gravelly tannins ensuring it doesn’t fall away. Great length, poised and detailed into the finish.”

96 points, Dave Brookes, The Wine Companion “Dang! Look at that colour. Saturated magenta/crimson with fruit characters of blackberry, cherry liqueur and blueberry along with hints of dark spice, amaro, violets, dried meats, licorice, sandalwood, leather and vanilla. There is a real succulence to the fruit here, super pure and expressive, tending to savoury as those chalky tannins embrace the black fruits and driving on for some time on the finish. North-western Barossa sense of compression at its finest.”

93 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front “Plush ‘n’ lush, dark cherry, cola, salted liquorice, some walnut notes, dark chocolate and pipe tobacco. All on. Supple in texture with some quality grip in the web of sandy tannin that shapes things up. Finishes moody and inky, salty and peppery. A real gut stainer, though does feel balanced in its way, but on the edge of baked, perhaps. Enticing for richness.”

RRP $72 *Our Special Price $57.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine*