2023 Spinifex Garcon Grenache, Barossa Valley

Spinifex was founded in 2001 by Peter Schell and Magali Gely — he a trained oenologist who has made wine across Burgundy, Provence, the Languedoc and beyond; she from a family with over ten generations of viticulture near Montpellier. Between them they brought a very particular conviction to the Barossa: that the vineyard is everything, and that the winemaker’s role is to preserve what the land and the grower have already achieved rather than impose on it. Spinifex built its reputation through long-term relationships with exceptional growers — and those relationships remain the heart of the range. The négociant model has never been a compromise at Spinifex any more than it is for many of the great names of Burgundy. What matters is the land, and the honesty with which you listen to it.

A cross-regional celebration of Barossa Valley Grenache, Garçon is sourced from four manually tended dry-grown old vine vineyards. Winemaking follows traditional Spinifex practice: slow, natural fermentations with gentle pump-overs and foot-stomping. A portion of whole bunches are included, and maturation takes place across a mixture of steel and various oak vessels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered eight months after harvest. 

Lifted and aromatic, the glass has trouble containing all of the crunchy red fruit aromas that blend with rose petals, warm baking spice and clafoutis notes. The palate feels light and sapid, with saliva-inducing fresh red fruit flavours and tannins of the finest grit.

Rustic yet refined, this elevates a good tapas table: pan con tomate, pinchos morunos (Spanish pork skewers), calamares a la Romana (crispy squid with black garlic mayonnaise).