Pirate Cru William Hunt Old Vine Mataro 2015

Pirate Cru William Hunt Old Vine Mataro 2015

  16:00    Stu.

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WIlliam Hunt, in the words of Chief Pirateer Dirk Pettigrew: "Bearded Christian pugilist, a realist and traditionalist with an enquiring eye for natural beauty found in the detail." Old vines, planted back in the Victorian era, and hence a nod to the artisans of the day. A time of a search for reform and improvement, of fighting against the church.

To the wine in question, the stawart Mataro, from a small block of dry grown, old vine Mataro in the Barossa's Vine Vale sub-region. 

At four years it's redolent of what might be considered the markers of old Vine Mataro: of blue fruit and subtle licorice hints. 

Medium bodied, fine grained tannin, yet it grows in stature across the palate. Blueberry and Mulberry, primarily, form the predominant flavour across the palate. Initial fruit hints borne of the Blueberry and Mulberry deliver a subtle pop of flavour that delivers - generously. 92 

Tasted on: Saturday 28th September, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: www.piratecru.com.au

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Rusden Full Circle Mataro 2012

Rusden Full Circle Mataro 2012

  19:20    Stu.

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I first wrote on the 2009 vintage of Rusden's Full Circle Mataro back in the early days of 'Project Mataro'. Whilst that particular initiative has lost a little focus as varietal wines became more ubiquitous, it's still nice to get the chance to reacquaint oneself with one of the early players.

A little lift: stylistic pursuit combined with Vine Vale elegance - lies over the inherent cherry compote aromatics, supplemented with a little woody spice.

Sour cherry, herbal/ garrigue savoury notes, each weaving their way through the palate. Freshness to the wine, a hallmark of Rusden's Mataro is its lightness - a comment-worthy aspect of that 2009 mentioned earlier.

Good length here too. Producer first, variety second, region third. 92

Tasted on: Sunday 26th July, a Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $45
Alcohol: 14.8%
Closure: DIAM
Website: http://www.rusdenwines.com.au/

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Woods Crampton Mataro 2012

Woods Crampton Mataro 2012

  13:26    Stu.

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Buy. I don't recall any other occasion where I've started a tasting note with a recommendation to part with your hard earned, but I feel here it's warranted.

A bit of history in regards to fruit source: drawn off of a single vineyard in the Vine Vale sub-region, vines in their eightieth or so year, organically grown. Normally that's marketing guff and back label talk for "expect to pay north of $40". Here you can have such a wine for around $20.

Yet, ignoring price and provenance for a moment, it's a remarkable wine standing up on its own. I saw it as a complex beast, opening with partially cured meat backed up with cherry and almond; hints of choc-hazelnut, apricot - offering something else at each re-appraisal.

More medium than full - using a boxer as metaphor you'd be thinking Muhammad Ali, a sure heavyweight but with a lightness of touch, a deftness. On the palate we see blue-black fruits, moving to a minerally/ ferrous feel. There seems a secondary phase beyond the initial lightness, where it steps up a gear, a little spice, moderate tannin, lasting grip; generosity of flavour, subtlety, guile. Simply superb. 94 

Tasted on: Saturday 1st February, Root to Flower day 
Source: Retail, Spiros Paddington
Price: $20-25
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://woods-crampton.com.au/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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