Torzi Matthews 1903 Old Vines Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2017
Today is Grenache Day, and while I hate grape days (there’s now a Lambrusco Day and a Carignan Day FYI), I’m a big fan of Grenache and Dom Torzi is on a roll (his new Frost Dodger is a winner too)
Here, Grenache is blended with its mates Shiraz and Mataro, though the 70% Grenache is the hero. It comes from a block at Moppa Hill tended by Domenico Martino and first planted by the Hoffmann family.
The fruit is handpicked and co-fermented (the blend is 70% Grenache, 20% Shiraz and 10% Mataro) with 25% whole bunches. Wild ferment and spends 28 months in used oak.
Concentrated, licoricey style, the creamy oak folded into the raspberry cola palate wandering between meaty fruit, almost spritzy acidity and then a chunky finish. Bold flavours, but at no point heavy or overwhelming. High high quality and more than just fruit – layers of meaty bunchy notes, the palate super smooth in the Torzi way, with real tannins and depth.
You could – and will – pay double or triple and get much less wine. What a winner. Best drinking: Good now, better next year and a decade easy. 18.5/20, 94/100. 14%, $28. $28!!!!. Would I buy it? Who wouldn’t at this price?
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