"Bonkers value here" | 95 Points - Dave Brookes
Spinifex has emerged as one of the most impressive Barossa wineries of recent times, always hitting the seemingly perfect balance between approachable, modern wine styles while respecting the traditions of the region. Spinifex's Papillon is crafted from a range of old vine, dry grown Grenache and Cinsault vineyards, located in the east and far northern reaches of the Barossa Valley. Remarkably, the average age of these low yielding vines today sits at 90 years old.
A fresh, lively blend of Grenache (75%) and Cinsault (25%) , the 2025 Spinifex Papillon opens with lifted aromatics of redcurrant, raspberry, rose petal and dried spice. The palate is medium-bodied and lively with red cherry, juicy raspberry and cranberry flavours. Loaded with plenty of fruit expression and depth, this is another super drinking, bargain offering from Spinifex.
"95 Points. I just love this wine. The word 'smashable' shines with overuse, but the Papillon consistently offers such an ease of drinking that it is just a no-brainer every year. Spacious, airy and mid-weighted, this year sees a blend of grenache 75% and cinsault 25%, and it's a raspberry and citrus blossom-flecked beauty with hints of exotic spice, tendrils of twiggy nuance (hello, 100% whole clusters), cranberry, charcuterie, dried citrus rinds and distant flowering herbs. A brisk mineral cadence and a sweetly balanced, chalky tannin array. It is just bright, joyous drinking. Bonkers value here, too. $30. Screw cap. 12.8% alc.- Dave Brookes, Halliday Top 100 Wines 2026.
"This year’s release is a blend of 75% grenache, 25% cinsault. This is a delicious wine. It’s light and frisky but sweet and rusty. It has character but it also has a straight-forward juicy drinkability. It tastes of redcurrant, musk, raspberry, peanuts and sweet spices, with rust and floral notes lifting off. There’s an attractive run of grapey tannin and a general vibe of "light but insistent". Personally I’d buy and drink this in a heartbeat. 92 Points. Tasted: March 26. 12.8% alc. $28. Screwcap. Drink: 2027 - 2032"- Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front.
