Smallfry Vine Vale Garden Mataro 2017 by Smallfry Wines in the Barossa is a savoury, old‑vine single‑varietal Mataro that leans into earth, spice and structure rather than simple fruitiness. It’s a biodynamic, low‑intervention take on classic Barossa Mataro from their Vine Vale garden, made to show the grape in all its wild, meaty glory.

Aromatically you’re looking at forest floor, briars and dark fruits, Christmas pudding and dark spice, with tones of blood plum, dark cherry and blackberry cut by meaty, exotic spice notes and a fair lick of oak architecture. The palate is savoury, herbal and earthy, with deep dark fruits wrapped in spice, gamey/meaty complexity and firm but integrated tannins that give it a serious, food‑friendly frame. It’s a rare example of Mataro bottled solo, and it shows both power and rustic charm.

For food, Vine Vale Garden Mataro 2017 is a natural with slow‑cooked lamb shanks, osso buco, rich beef stews, grilled sausages or smoky barbecued meats, where that meaty, spicy profile finds a perfect partner. It will also sit beautifully alongside game dishes, hard cheeses and robust Mediterranean plates – a distinctive, deeply Barossan red for those who like their wines savoury, structured and just a little bit wild.