medium-bodied, almost Burgundian styles, where others are focused on making traditional or modern laissez-faire reds, and all could be highly successful if well managed. Many of the best wines were at the richer and chewier end of the spectrum. Hayes Family Wines Estate Block 3 Mataro 2021 showed superb complexity, volume, concentration and length, with clear potential for a long-drinking future. More modern but impressive examples were the Barossa Boy Young Wisdom Mataro 2019, Teusner Wines Righteous Mataro 2018, and the Soul Growers 106 Vines Mourvedre 2019, with their sweet, inky fruit plumes and supple tannin frames. Some more reserved and savoury styles also scored highly. Hewitson’s Old Garden Vineyard Mourvèdre 2018 is a reference style that immediately thrills, with highly complex fruits supported by lacy tannins. Turkey Flat Vineyards Mataro 2020 and the John Duval Wines Annexus Mataro 2018 were more in the red fruit spectrum, but also delivered with plenty of vigour. The quality of the tasting overall was very impressive and confirmed our impressions that mataro is a fascinating grape variety that can produce exceptional quality wines and the Barossa is certainly one of the best places in the world to grow it!
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T he V intage J ournal – Regional Focus
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