2002 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro

Wendouree are a small Clare Valley vineyard which have vines up to 100 years old. These old vines are very low yielding resulting in super concentrated fruit. The wines are probably not as big as they use to be, opting for a bit more elegance, however, they do possess an exceptional depth of flavour.

Other Reviews….
Rare treat to dive into a bottle from the cellar, rarer that it’s the rare rare wines of Wendouree. Clare Valley, old site, uncompromising old school winemaking, old school approach to selling the stuff too. Wendouree is such an icon in Australian wine it should be given its own postage stamp or currency. Grateful we live in a time and place to appreciate the wines.
Even, concentrated year aside there’s a pretty, mellow flow to this wine. Kick off with the red cherry, plums, wet earth, bay leaf and gum leaf scents. Slip into the full figured but suede textured palate. The wine rolls and rolls and rolls with its full figure, yet seems to have a web of firming tannins that gives life and structure, even with thirteen-or-so years under its belt. Expect dusty tannin profile and get into the dried fruits, garam masala spice and maturing fruit characters. That being said, so much evolution and pleasure in a glass as the wine opens and opens. Superb drinking right now. Drink 2016 - 2022+.
95 Points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front (January 2016)