The front label doesn’t feature the vineyard name but I’ve popped in into my title as it’s an 80 year-old, dry-grown site with vines planted on their own rootstocks and managed organically. It lies in the Vine Vale area of the eastern Barossa Valley. Woods Crampton have secured the total production and are “determined to keep this wine single vineyard.” So let’s celebrate place. The wine does.
Whereas a lot of Barossan Mataro can be described as masculine or brooding, there is a lightness of foot and a spring in the step here. It feels kind of joven, feline and silky although it did spend fifteen months in large format oak. Has a bit of whole bunch in it too but it’s far from a stalky wine. Transparency is the word. It sings with blueberries, dark cherries and brambly fruit; sweet at first but heading in a ferruginous direction as it moves down the line. Complex spice with an aniseed and iron aftertaste. The tannin isn’t as constrictive as is often the case with the variety but the acidity is delicate and a thing of beauty. Yes, I’d love to know how it will age but gosh it’s hard not to smack it down now. For the record it stood up very well after being open for three and a half days. 93
Region: Barossa Valley
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $25
Tasted: October 2013