Good work Clare Valley. You had Mataro growing well before it was trendy.  The blending amount obviously changes vintage to vintage, currently the website lists the 2011 vintage as current with “Grenache Mataro” as the blending (as per the bottle shot). As they say in S-E Asia….Same Same (but different).

Mitchell Wines Mataro Grenache, Clare Valley, 2012

Cool dark purple fruits with inky thickness fight the licorice/tonic herbal nature of the Mataro. Some lightly roasted pan juices provide a meaty, savoury detour. Chocolatey oak treatment softens the blow of rusticity. Bitter herbs fall to lovely developed red fruit. Feels “old school.” It isn’t a slick wine, it’s not about polish or trumpeting a zeitgeist. The couple of years ageing has put this into a mature space, but the grainy tannins augur well for further maturation.

RRP: $22

Alc: 14.6%

Wine sample courtesy of Mitchell Wines