Yelland and Papps 2009 Divine Mataro (Sample)

RedtoBrown’s first exposure to the Yelland and Papps Divine range of premium wines was the 2008 Divine Shiraz - an ambitious wine and a very good result given the vintage. The 2009 Divine range has been expanded with a Grenache and Mataro joining the Shiraz.

The 2009 Divine Mataro is a dark, brooding, yet at the same time, smooth, opulent and seductive wine. It is made from hand-picked old bush vine fruit that was yielding fruit in the 1880s. On the nose, black tarry fruit does a slow dance with turned earth and complex spice. The palate has layers of blood plumb, blackberry, earth, tar and liquorice, with a chocolate / mocha seam that runs from beginning to end. The tannins are fine while still being robust,  the old French oak a subtle support player. adding structure. It finishes with a dark earthiness without excess alcohol heat or tannin.

If I were not tasting (as opposed to drinking) this wine, it would not have lasted the day – such is its lure. However, as we trend to do with the red wine samples, I came back to this wine over several days. On days two and three, the fruit became a bit more prominent, and on day five, the tannins had retreated further, yet the structure and poise remained. To sum it up, it did not fall over by the time the bottle was finished. The wine was drinking well after 5 days, fruity, savoury and structured, suggesting it will age superbly. So convinced with this, I put my money where my mouth is – a bottle of this is now in the cellar and will not be coming out for a long time.

Yelland and Papps have made a truly impressive wine here. It is great to see Australian wineries in multiple regions releasing increasing numbers of wines in this mould: hand-picked, carefully sourced and sensitively crafted, wines that have a personal touch and that speak of place. It is becoming clichéd to say this type of thing, though the quality of the Yelland and Papps Divine Mataro justifies it.

Rating – 96 pts
R.R.P - $100

ABV  14.8
Closure - Screwcap
Website - http://yellandandpapps.com/

BROWN (RB)