2021 Spinifex Moppa Shiraz

A dark, broody and exotically spiced Barossa Valley Shiraz. Aromatically complex, high toned pepper, vermouth herbs, iodine, liquored cherry and blackberry fruits overlay delicate peat smoke, sandalwood, cinnamon, star anise spice and deeper wood ash and warm leather notes. Still very primary. Full yet compact palate, strong tart dark plum and blackberry fruits on attack turn to deeper and earthier cassis and plum fruit, black tea, brown woody spices and bitter chocolate. Fresh dark fruit acids and tight, fine, slatey tannins drive a fresh finish.

Hand harvested fruit was chilled overnight prior to partial destemming, placed in open stainless steel and oak fermenters (with around 30 % of bunch kept entire) for between 10 and 24 days.  Fermentations were undertaken with indigenous yeasts and were matured on light lees until racking and blending 20 months after harvest. Components were matured in thick staved French oak puncheons, demi muids and barriques, with about 40% being new.

Growing Season:

In the extreme northwest corner of the Barossa Valley is a small, old vineyard planting of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro.  Planted sometime in the 1940’s or 50’s, its owned and cared for by an older Batchelor who has grown up on the block – it’s been managed organically for around 40 years. Whilst the 2021 is only the sixth Shiraz wine selection that we’ve bottled as a single vineyard, we’ve made wine from the vineyard since 2005. The 2021 growing season and vintage conditions were close to historical averages. Solid winter and spring rains were a great start to the season but uneven weather through spring negatively affected flowering. The weather approaching and during the harvest was generally mild, dry, and without tribulation.