2018 Aphelion Emergent Mataro

Opaque dark red black colour with a dark red hue. Aromas of ripe dark plum, dark cherry and liquorice overlay earth, dried herb and pepper notes. Soft and fleshy yet also possessing an underlying freshness, juicy dark cherry, plum, liquorice and blueberry fruits flood the mouth. Subtle notions of earth and spice also chime in. Silky smooth tannins with a long succulent yet savoury aftertaste.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14.4%

Other Reviews….
I believe that this noble variety, together with grenache and southern Italian indigenes, are the future of Australian viticulture. Why? Because they are neither thirsty, early ripening, nor effete, in essence, well suited to the torrid dry conditions of this land. As importantly, they are responsible for delicious wines. This rich red was sourced from three vineyards across cooler and warmer zones: Blewitt, Willunga and Sellicks, with the warmer Willunga material fermented as 50% whole-bunch. Maturation took place in used French wood, evident across the back end. The result is a ferrous beam of chinotto, dark cherry and dried herb laying down a patina of pleasure with a clench of reductive tension. Drink by 2028.
94 points
Ned Goodwin – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion