98 Points | "Exceptional" - Nick Stock | RRP $70
The 2018 Spinifex Indigene is another stunning flagship rendition of Barossa Shiraz Mataro from the team at Spinifex. Crafted from some of Spinifex's oldest dry-grown Shiraz (63%) and Mataro (37%) vineyards in Ebenezer, Moppa and High Eden, this has been attracted plenty of recent interest on the back of some glowing reviews.
This offers a lovely savoury, broody nose where roasted chestnut, hazelnut, dried cherry, mulberry and sweet cassis are framed by more delicate ground coffee, dried citrus rind and fresh tarragon notes. The palate offers plenty of dark plum, ripe blackberry fruit lifted with delicate dried floral notes on the finish. Full and vigorous, with loads of flavour and a faultless structure, this is another top flight red wine from Spinifex.
"98 Points. Ripe dark plums, blueberries and graphite with some peppery, dark, wild-herb nuances. The palate has a very deep, rich and intense feel with such powerful blackberry and blueberry flavors. Long, smooth, thick and ripe tannins. This is a signature wine for Spinifex and it is in great shape in 2018. Exceptional. A blend of shiraz and mataro. Drink or hold. Screw cap."- Nick Stock, 2020 Barossa Report, jamessuckling.com.
"96 Points. It tastes as though it's been borne out from the ground. It combines deep, dark berried flavour with earth, coal, malt and clove, all of which then has dry, peppercorn tannin swept about it all. There's oak here but it feels part of the wine rather than an addition. There's obviously some size to this offering but it doesn't feel it; such is its balance. It's not stretching things to call it stellar. $70. 14.5% alc. Drink by 2040. Screwcap" - Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion 2021.