Matriarch and Rogue, from the Clare Valley  is “simply about great fruit from great vineyards. Marnie Roberts is the winemaker and the family behind the label, with all the wines named for her family, with wine styles matched to the big characters in the Byrne family.” Marnie is also well known as the winemaker for Claymore Wines.

Matriarch and Rogue, Mary, Tempranillo, Clare Valley, 2016

Basket pressed and old oak maturation for juicability. Earthy, purple flowers, fleshy plums, strawberries, cherries, raisin toast spice and a little fresh rubber. Continues that rubbery flavour on the palate, with cool blue and purple plums and almost a bluestone minerality. Sandpaper sheets of fine tannin support a very fruit forward, giving wine. Finishing with fine currant and raisin flavours, this gives more than a nod towards easy drinking Rioja, but must serve with food.

RRP: $28
Alc: 13.8%
Rating: 16.5/20

Wine sample courtesy of Matriarch and Rogue