2020 Smidge Adamo Shiraz, Barossa Valley

Smidge Adamo Shiraz from the Barossa Valley is a beautifully crafted, small-batch expression of Shiraz that reflects both the region’s depth and the meticulous winemaking of Matt Wenk. As Smidge Wines’ flagship Barossa Shiraz, Adamo (meaning “to fall in love with” in Latin) is named with intent — it’s a wine made to inspire affection through balance, complexity, and finesse rather than sheer power.

The fruit is sourced from a single vineyard in the western Barossa, where old vines planted in red-brown loam over clay deliver concentrated berries of exceptional flavour and natural acidity. Hand harvested and fermented in small open-top fermenters, the wine undergoes gentle extraction before being matured for around eighteen months in fine-grained French oak. The approach is deliberately restrained, allowing vineyard character to shine through.

In the glass it shows a deep crimson-purple colour. The aroma is captivating, with layers of blackberry, plum, and black cherry woven together with hints of dark chocolate, clove, and cedar. The palate is full and plush yet beautifully composed, revealing dense dark fruit supported by fine tannins and subtle oak spice. The texture is velvety and seamless, leading to a long, savoury finish that balances richness with freshness.

It pairs wonderfully with grilled ribeye, roast lamb, venison, or mushroom dishes, and it’s equally at home with a rich stew or aged cheese. Delicious on release for its opulent fruit and supple structure, it will reward patience over the next fifteen years as it develops secondary notes of tobacco, spice, and earth.