2020 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro 750ml

The 2020 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro is a powerful and age-worthy Clare Valley blend from one of Australia's most revered cult wineries. Produced from historic dry-grown vineyards, this iconic combination of Shiraz and Mataro showcases the extraordinary concentration, structure, and longevity that have made Wendouree one of the country's most collectible producers.

Founded in 1893, Wendouree remains one of Australia's most traditional and uncompromising wine estates. The old-vine vineyards, planted on Clare Valley's distinctive ironstone-rich soils, consistently produce wines of exceptional depth, complexity, and cellar-worthiness. With annual production remaining extremely limited, demand for each release continues to far exceed supply.

The 2020 vintage produced lower yields but exceptional fruit intensity, resulting in a wine of remarkable concentration and structure. Shiraz contributes layers of blackberry, black plum, dark cherry, and liquorice, while Mataro adds savoury spice, dried herbs, earth, floral perfume, and firm tannin structure. Together they create a wine of impressive power and balance.

Traditional fermentation and maturation in French oak preserve the purity of the vineyard expression. As with all Wendouree wines, intervention is kept to a minimum, allowing the fruit and site character to take centre stage. Bottled under screwcap, the wine is designed for long-term cellaring and gradual evolution.

The bouquet reveals intense aromas of blackberry, mulberry, satsuma plum, black pepper, dried herbs, ironstone, dark chocolate, and exotic spice. The palate is concentrated and tightly coiled, with exceptional fruit density, fine-grained tannins, vibrant acidity, and outstanding persistence. Despite its richness, the wine remains beautifully balanced and displays the hallmark restraint that defines the best Wendouree releases.

While approachable with extended decanting, the 2020 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro is still in its infancy and will reward patient cellaring over the next 25–40+ years.

Winery: A.P. Birks Wendouree
Region: Clare Valley, South Australia
Varieties: Shiraz & Mataro
Vintage: 2020
Style: Rich & Structured Red Wine
Closure: Screwcap

Food Pairing: Slow-roasted lamb, beef ribeye, venison, braised short ribs, game meats, and mature hard cheeses.