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Rolf Binder is one of the Barossa's quiet achieving superstars, recipient of the most conspicuous national accolades, Barossa Winemaker of Year and Best Small Producer, Best Barossa Shiraz Trophy and coveted listing in the illustrious Langtons Classification of Australian Wine. Binder's focus has always been on old vines fruit, in particular, the abstruse canon of early settler varietals which populated Barossa Valley during the 1840s. Wild bush vines Mataro, picked off patches at Tanunda along Langmeil Road, ancient growths of Grenache from Gomersal and Light Pass. Rolf's tour de force are eight superlative rows of Shiraz, established 1972 by the Binders.. Seven decades of tillage at tanunda»
There were two scrub covered parcels of land, just outside Pokolbin village along McDonalds Road, that local council had long set aside for use as cricket ground and cemetery. Both were ultimately auctioned off to the highest bidders and sown to vine. A third undeveloped site became the subject of a long running feud among the new and old neighbours. Dodgy invoices between the rivals were exchanged and the division of firewood became a further cause of contention. A truce was eventually called by the two protagonists, Brokenwood and Hungerford Hill, for the sake of healthy viticulture. The nascent blocks achieved international renown as the eminent Cricket.. Sociable soils make for healthy vine»
Major Sir Thomas Mitchell left more than just an invaluable bequeth of our nation's most detailed frontier maps. Mitchell distinguished himself in Wellington's army during the Napoleonic wars in the renowned 95th Baker Rifles. A gifted draftsman, he found his way to the nascent colonies of Australia, where his acumen at mapmaking won him the office of Surveyor General. During one of Mitchell's historical expeditions, he charted the fertile lands around Victoria's Goulburn Valley, establishing the colonial fruitgrowing township of Mitchell's Town. The district's auspicious orchards flourished until Colin Preece identified the region as an opportune place to.. Barriques between the billabongs»
Born and bred, 6th generation winemaker Damien Tscharke grew up amongst the vines at Seppeltsfield, while attending Marananga Primary and Nuriootpa High. Gnadenfrei is the oldest vineyard within the Tscharke family estate portfolio, established over seventy years ago by Damien Tscharke's grandfather, the terroir and clime yield an exceptional quality of Shiraz. A seamlessly structured style, driven by fruit and kept vital by rich, cherry filled acidity. Show stopper this week... Superior value in old village barossa shiraz»

Spinifex Esprit GSM CONFIRM VINTAGE

Shiraz Grenache Mataro Barossa Eden South Australia
A complex Rhone-style expressing the profound characteristics delivered from great old vine vineyards. Low yielding and hand tended, they deliver a quality of fruit that's worthy of the old world's most prestigious growths. A rich and effusive cépage of Mataro and Grenache, Shiraz, Carignan and Cinsault are matured in selection of large format 500 to to 3000 litres French oak barrels to develop a complex vinous flavour base while preserving fruit freshness, enhance the exciting varietal complexity and preserve the vital tannin edge.
Available in cartons of six
Case of 6
$203.50
The majority of Shiraz comes from high country vineyards near the Barossa foothills and the Eden Valley. Mataro and Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault are sourced from warmer, lower altitude sites on the Barossa floor. It's the lighter textured quartz and sandy topsoils that produce more perfumed, delicate aromatics and give finesse. Some grapes are off vines as old as sixty years, most Grenache is about thirty years, while some of the Shiraz and Mataro can be from vines that are well over a century old. Winemaker Peter Schell is isolating the finest parcels in the Barossa and Eden Valleys, getting a handle on these old blocks and their different characteristics, capturing and preserving what they have to offer.
Bright, dark scarlet hue. An appealing and intriguing aromatic spectrum that includes fresh red fruits, cherries, raspberry and plum skin over savoury secondary characters, fresh earth, roasted nuts and herb. A lovely subtlety and complexity on the fresh and lively palate, plum skins and red currant, smoke and dried herb, mineral notes line the palate. Savoury secondaryness on the finish, drying tannins make Esprit a classic wine for the table.
Spinifex
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Spinifex
Spinifex is a small family owned and operated winery established in 2001 by Peter Schell and Magali Gely

Spinifex make small quantities of unique hand crafted regional wines from the Barossa and Eden Valleys. Spinifex are typically blended, as a more complete and complex, unique and characterful wine can be assembled from components that are the result of the interaction between variety, soil and meso-climate. Peter Schell makes all the wines at the estate winery in Bethany, Tanunda, where he also runs his own winemaking consultancy company. Over the years, the pair have both worked for Barossa wineries, including Mountadam and Turkey Flat (where Peter was winemaker from 2001 – 2005), whilst also working five vintages in the South of France. In 2001 Peter and Magali decided to start making their own wines, sourcing grapes from five old Barossa vineyards to complete about 400 cases in that first year.

Spinifex

Spinifex first opportunity was to source some great old vine Mataro growing in deep white drift-sand on the Barossa Valleys’ Western Ridge. As interest and demand for the couple's efforts grew, the decision was made to focus all attention and passion into what had by then become Spinifex Wines. The estate now have over 30 dedicated Barossa / Eden Valley growers with mature vineyards, averaging 60 years, and ranging up to 140 years of age. Each year between forty-five and sixty different parcels of fruit from these growers are vinified.

The majority of the Shiraz comes from high country vineyards at the foothills and from the Eden Valley. Grenache, Mataro, Cinsault and Carignan are sourced from warmer, lower altitude vineyard sites on the Barossa Floor. The philosophy behind Spinifex is based on hand-crafting wines which are unique and distinctive, reflecting the winemakers own tastes and preferences. The inspiration comes from a fusion of experiences in France over the years, the many great wines consumed during those trips, and the individuality and character of some fantastic old vineyards in the Barossa.

The focus is always on making regional wines from the traditional Mediterranean grape varieties that have been grown successfully in Australia for over 150 years - Shiraz, Mataro, Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Ugni Blanc, Grenache Gris, Marsanne and Semillon. The aim is to make wines that display signatures of vineyard provenance and vintage, show regional typicity and have a consistent thread of house style which reflect the mwkers experiences.

Spinifex

Spinifex are predominately blends, the synergies derived from blending wines of differing character enhance the subtle complexities, even textures and profound personalities delivered from great old vine vineyards. Peter Schell and Magali Gely share a commitment for the Barossa and hold a strong passion for the local wines. Spinifex has enticed with its choice of varieties, quality winemaking and individuality. What’s next?

Schell acquires fruit from little family growers, passionate people who are excited to sell grapes to someone who is interested in their vineyard. And they get a kick out of that and it makes life easier for everyone. Some fruit is sourced from vines as old as 60 years, with most grenache about 30 years old. That’s astounding. Then again, some of the shiraz and mataro Spinifex uses is 110-140 years old. The different parcels of grenache are also fermented separately until decision time as to what goes into what wine. There’s nothing arbitrary about it, says Schell, who's getting a handle on these old blocks and what they offer, their different characteristics. Spinifex harbour a special passion for Grenache. It’s certainly well suited to Australia, especially from a sustainability point of view, as it doesn’t require irrigation. But it’s on a bit of a downward spiral, laments Schell. With not enough winemakers getting behind the variety, there’s hardly an incentive for growers to improve or, indeed, plant more. And you can’t expect good wine unless you’ve got good fruit says Schell.

Spinifex also have a strong French connection, both physically and philosophically. Magali's family, who up until recently were vignerons with a long lineage in Lunel, near Montpellier, still live in southwest France. Over the years, Peter has worked six French vintages, in Provence, the Languedoc, Bordeaux and Burgundy. Time spent in the south of France has fuelled their interest in making unique, hand crafted wines with personality, which are generous and honest expressions of the Barossa.

Spinifex