If there’s one winery that has made significant waves in the world of Australian wines recently, it’s Spinifex. Vintners Peter Schell and Magali Gely have much to celebrate, being recently proclaimed as the ‘saviours of Australian wine’ and the heralds of the ‘new Barossa Valley’. Interesting, perhaps, as their vines are far from new – indeed, most of the grapes they work with come from vines which are genuinely historic and over fifty years old.
What is exciting about them, though, is the fact that they are bringing ten generations of fine, French winemaking to Barossa, thanks to Gely’s family who own ancestral wineries in Montpellier, and who’ve clearly been sharing some precious family secrets. Peter has been trying to catch up with Magali’s inherent wine knowledge by learning from the best winemaker from New Zealand to Burgundy. Although this Barossa Valley stalwart is becoming more well known, the winery is still very much a small batch affair. Everything is done by hand, and with full respect for the vineyards.
Pete Schell and his wife Magali keep on turning out hit after hit under their label Spinifex. The 2016 Miette GSM is a Grenache-based Barossa blend with loads of appeal. It’s an ideal “everyday” wine – the blend itself draws on other great “everyday” wines common in the Cotes du Rhone region of France. Fragrant, spicy and medium weighted, and offers loads of ripe red fruit, with hints of cocoa and a touch of spice. Super enjoyable to drink, there’s flavours of red lollies, cherry and plum, mixed with white pepper and bit of leather. Lots going on here, and lots to enjoy – really fine tannins and a chewy, juicy texture. Great stuff.
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