Mataro Member10 Wine

The Pict

Mataro (or Mourvédre as it is called in France) was once a ‘workhorse variety’ used for fortified winemaking in Australia, but is now receiving due acknowledgement as a superb varietal table wine, taking its place alongside Barossa Shiraz and Grenache.

A remnant quarry is the source of this single vineyard from which the fruit exhibits a wild, rugged aroma that is reminiscent of the earthy Mataros from the Bandol region of France.

Torbreck is the name of a forest near Inverness, Scotland and you’ll find more than a passing nod to the Celts in our wine naming conventions. The Picts were a late Iron AgeEarly Medieval tribe that settled eastern and northern Scotland.

Current Vintage 2021

The 2021 summer growing season was mild, with even and cooldaily temperatures throughout. Enhanced by good rainsprovided during the winter and spring of 2020, our vineyardsgrew wonderful canopies and developed well-formed grapebunches. As a result of this long flavour development cycle in thevineyard, 2021’s signature is wines of high aromatic lift withdensely coloured tints and exceptional balance.

Current Vintage 2020

Strong winds at flowering at the beginning of the growing season reduced berry and bunch count in many vineyards. The difficult seasonal conditions continued up to harvest- a dry winter and spring were followed by very hot and dry December and January. 2020 was a difficult season to manage for both grower and winemaker with yields much lower than anticipated. Older vineyards with deeper roots remained steadfast under these conditions and produced small volumes of deeply concentrated wines from the lower yields. Semillon and Viognier were the starring whites, with delicate flavours and aromas. While the yields have been small, the overall quality has created deeply coloured and textured wines that resonate their place of origin.

Current Vintage 2019

The growing season was defined by a continuously warm to hot summer with no effective rainfall, wind and hail at flowering, and followed with three major frosts - resulting in an earlier and much smaller harvest than average. These tough conditions produced smaller clusters of intensely dark berries with thick fleshy skins contrasted against brown mature stalks. Whilst yields were down, once these vineyards were fermenting in our cellar the concentration of colour, tannin and aroma of the 2019 vintage was revealed

Current Vintage 2018

An above average winter rainfall led into a below average spring and summer rainfall, producing small bunches and small berries, leading to a reduced yield. Quality was certainly high, particular amongst our red varieties of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro. 2018 wines will be remembered for their impressive colour, structure and longevity.

Current Vintage 2017

After a cold and rainy winter in 2016, the Barossa had one of its wettest springs on record, replenishing sub-soil moisture and setting the vineyards up for a healthy summer. Mild conditions during veraison and light rains in January and February 2017, were followed by an extended warm, dry Indian summer, creating perfect ripening conditions through to April 2017. An outstanding vintage producing bright, aromatic whites and intense, well-structured reds.

Current Vintage 2015

Above average rains in 2014 filled the soil profile. This was followed by a helpful deluge for dry grown vineyards in January 2015. Generally dry for the remainder of vintage, warm days and cool nights created the perfect ripening conditions.