Beautifully sculpted, racy, red-and-blackberry-fruit along with a lifted rosehip note as well, and some inky depths on the driven finish. Gets more and more perfumed and lively with air, it's another terrific effort from one of Australia's most gifted wine people. The wine, naturally fermented with a judicious use of whole clusters (on average 30%) in a combination of stainless steel, wood and concrete fermenters, also sees a shorter maturation than the Esprit and Bête Noir, et al. The 2018 was cropped from five high, exposed parcels in the Barossa and Eden Valley, where the soils are generally poor and skeletal - for the most part light, gravelly and silty sands over deeply weathered base rocks of varied origins. Vine age varies from 25 to 115 years old (averaging 50 years old), and all fruit is hand harvested. Spinifex was started in 2001 with the opportunity to source some great old vine Mataro growing in deep white drift-sand on the Barossa Valleys Western Ridge. Owned by husband and wife team, Peter Schell and Magali Gely, their focus is on regional wines from the traditional Mediterranean grape varieties that have been grown successfully in Australia for over 150 years - Shiraz, Mataro, Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Ugni Blanc, Grenache Gris, Marsanne and Semillon. They aim to make wines that display signatures of vineyard provenance and vintage, show regional typicity and have a consistent thread of 'house style' that reflects their preferences and experiences with wine. The wines they choose to make are predominately blends, the synergies derived from blending wines of differing character enhance the subtle complexities, even textures and profound personalities delivered from great old vine vineyards.

Spinifex Papillon is a vibrant and luscious red from the Baross Valley that is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Mataro. Made in the typical modern Australian mould, the Papillon is bright and aromatic with lifted cherry, red currant and spicy raspberry. A very perfumed wine with earthy flavours of beetroot and white pepper which lends itself to being a terrific food style wine with lovely acid structure and a medium weight.

When Pete and Magali purchased the Dominion Vineyard in 2018, they were particularly excited to work with a tiny block of Chenin Blanc vines almost 100 years old. This is their first solo release from this ancient fruit. The Chenin fruit from this old site holds natural breadth and intensity of flavour, so Pete picks early to capture natural freshness and preserve balance. The fruit is crushed without destemming and pressed to French oak for fermentation, followed by partial malolactic conversion and maturation in demi-muids. What a wine this is! All those juicy, exuberantly fruity Chenin Blanc aromas and flavours, with the typical Spinifex thumbprint of texture and salinity. Watch this space, if this first release is anything to go by then this may soon become one of the country's leading Chenin Blancs.

Spinifex Bete Noir Shiraz has a potent herb infused fruit on attack. Spiced red plum, cherry and sage flavours with a saline edge are carried on mid-weight frame of strong black tea-like tannin. Barossa Shiraz with even temper - displays fleshy, dark and generous fruit measured by ripe acids and drying tannin.

Vinification is simple and centred around preserving the delicacy, freshness and vitality found in early picked old vine fruit. This Spinifex Rose consists of Grenache (52%), Cinsault (30 %), Mataro (14%) and Ugni blanc (4%). Bunches from mature (averaging 65 years of age) dry drown vineyards are hand harvested and the crushed and left to macerate for between 4 and 48 hrs prior to pressing.