Tim Smith Wines Mataro Grenache Shiraz 2008 (Barossa Valley, SA)

NOTES

Tim Smith is a small Barossa based wine producer. His core range of wines focuses on the regions time proven varieties of Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro (Mourvedre), and Viognier With over 20 years experience working with some of the regions better known producers, and numerous overseas vintages mostly in Portugal, France and New Zealand, Tim draws on a truly international palette of experiences. His wine making approach has been described as having a passion for innovation, but retaining a strong sensibility for tradition.

TASTING NOTES

This is a superb example of how these varietals work so well together with each component contributing something different. The Mataro provides structure, the Grenache juiciness and palate sweetness, whilst the Shiraz delivers length. The result is a meaty, spicy and savoury blend with earthy aromas of plums, and polished leather. The palate is generous, with some powerful black fruit flavours and fleshiness, complimented superbly by some subtle oak handling. This is a wonderful wine that firmly cements Tim Smith as a producer on the rise.    

OTHER REVIEWS

Well it’s extremely good, that’s what it is. Love at first sip. Floral, blackberried and meaty all at once with a lightly earthen aspect, and soft, soft but also firm with terrific shape - much like a Dunlopillow (which I once had until one of my friends pinched it off my bed and stuffed it up the back of his shirt in order to achieve a ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ effect for Bastille day hiijinks. Never saw it again, that pillow I had from childhood). It’s juicy but not sweet and has no noisome oak - made much like a classic Chateauneuf I’d wager and beautifully done too, exhibiting supreme balance and drinkability. Just smashing really and good to the last - drank the whole bottle (over two nights). Tasted : Jun09. Alcohol : 14.5% Price : $28 Closure : Screwcap. Drink : 2010 – 2018

 94 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.