Region: Barossa Valley, SA
Winemaker:

The Shiraz Grenache Mataro 2006 is a variation on a theme of blending these varieties that have become incredibly popular in the Barossa and McLaren Vale, most often being seen as 'GSM' or Grenache Shiraz Mataro. Remember the first mentioned grape has a greater percentage - this wine is Shiraz 78% Grenache 14% and Marato 8%. Being shiraz predominant this is a bigger style than you will see from a 'GSM' and the 8% Mataro provides a kick greater than its volume would suggest.

Shiraz from John Pfeiffer's Stonewell vineyards, Grenache from the Semmler family's Tanunda vineyard and Mataro from Marcus Shulz's Ebenezer block.

This wine sums up why we moved to the Barossa Valley to start Glug and why you could not do this from an office in Sydney or Melbourne. Here's the story.

The Shiraz was purchased in a large volume from John Pfeiffer's daughters who passed through our office one day. Good dark stuff that soaks up the flavours of other wines. For this reason it has been a major component of many wines we made from the 2006 vintage (Karrawirra Shiraz 2006, Jam Association Shiraz Grenache 2006, Farmer & Parker ‘The Accord’ Barossa Valley Shiraz Cabernet 2006).

The Semmler family's Grenache block is just west of the township of Tanunda. Viticuluralist Warwick 'The Mute' Murray looked after the vineyard for them and had been bugging them for a few years to allow him to take the grapes from the the first few rows - these were the 80+ year old vines. Finally they gave in and Warwick made a terrific Grenache. As many deals are done in the Barossa, we purchased this wine at the bar of the Valley Hotel.

Finally we needed some Mataro to fill out the back pallet so Kym Teusner and Ben headed out to Marcus Shulz's Ebenezer property where Kym had heard a few barrels of Mataro were lurking a winery shed that were excess to Torbrek's needs. Marcus parted with the wine on promise of a case or two of the final blend.

The wine was blended by Ben at the Veritas winery and was bottled in early 2008. A big, bold example of this style - will be enjoyed by Shiraz drinkers.