2018 Spinifex Indigene Shiraz Mataro, Barossa Valley

Deep red/purple colour. The bouquet is shy, reserved and slightly smoky, char-oaky. The palate is lean and elegant, medium to full-bodied and the length is good. This is a lighter, less-punchy style of Barossa shiraz, and very stylish. There is lovely richness and fruit-sweetness at the core. Soft tannins and fleshiness. The balance and drinkability are spot-on. 22 JUL 2020 Drink 2020–2033

95 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

It tastes as though it's been borne out from the ground. It combines deep, dark berried flavour with earth, coal, malt and clove, all of which then has dry, peppercorn tannin swept about it all. There's oak here but it feels part of the wine rather than an addition. There's obviously some size to this offering but it doesn't feel it; such is its balance. It's not stretching things to call it stellar.

96 points Campbell Mattinson winecompanion.com.au

Ripe dark plums, blueberries and graphite with some peppery, dark, wild-herb nuances. The palate has a very deep, rich and intense feel with such powerful blackberry and blueberry flavors. Long, smooth, thick and ripe tannins. This is a signature wine for Spinifex and it is in great shape in 2018. Exceptional. A blend of shiraz and mataro.

98 points Nick Stock jamessuckling.com

Indigene is based on the Barossa's wonderful resource of old-vine Shiraz and Mataro (aka Mourvèdre). This year's blend was sourced exclusively from some of Spinifex's oldest, dry-grown Shiraz (63%) and Mataro (37%) vineyards located in Ebenezer, Moppa and High Eden. The fruit was hand-harvested, cooled overnight and naturally fermented with 30% whole bunches. Fermentation took place in small steel and wood fermenters for between 10 and 20 days, then the wine was pressed into a selection of barriques and demi-muids (20% new) for 20 months prior to bottling (unfined and without filtration).