95 Points - Dave Brookes
Spinifex is one of the most exciting Barossa Valley 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 always a delightful modern Barossa red showing that ripeness and depth of flavour doesn't need to come at the expense of freshness and vineyard clarity. The 2022 Spinifex Papillon is a blend of old-vine Grenache and Cinsault, with the Grenache coming from vines dating back to the 1890's. Fresh, lively with wonderful fruit expression and beautiful depth, this is a wonderful example of the style Spinifex does so well.
“95 Points. I'm a huge fan of Peter Schell's Papillon, this year a blend of 87/ 13% cinsault/ grenache. It's fragrant and pretty with a spaciousness and sense of detail that predates the majority of the wines that today present in a pleasant vin de soif style. Red fruited and spicy with notes of dried meats and citrus blossom, dried herbs and cranberry. An oh-so-easy-to-drink style with chalky tannins and red apple-like acidity. It's a ripper.”- Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wines 2024.
"Mostly cinsault, some grenache. It’s a light, mouthwatering, fresh style of red with its core of sweet raspberry and red licorice flavour surrounded by dry spice and roasted nut characters. In short, it’s delicious. Frisky but with flavour; sweet-fruited but with ample savoury nuance. It’s more-ish plus plus. 92 Points Tasted: March 23 12% alc. $28 Screwcap Drink: 2023 - 2028"- Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front.