Hutton Vale Farm Grenache Mataro 2012

After loving the 2017 vintage, I really enjoyed trying the Hutton Vale Farm Grenache Mataro 2012 and comparing the two. This wine seriously delivered on flavour with notes of plum, chocolate and spice. Notes of tobacco and leather came through in a wine that was rich and complex yet smooth and supple. Perfect for your next fancy meal, this wine will be right at home! And the best part? No need to wait to enjoy it! 

Last year I was sent a couple of the Hutton Vale Farm wines to try, and I reviewed the 2017 Grenache Mataro (read the review here). I honestly loved the wine so much that it made my list of top wines for 2021. So to celebrate, the team at Hutton Vale Farm stocked me up by sending me some of the 2017, but also some very special bottles from their older vintages. I was absolutely blown away by this, and beyond excited to dig in. So I tried the Hutton Vale Farm Grenache Mataro 2012 first, and was not disappointed! It was seriously delicious, and it was so fun trying it and comparing it to the 2017.

About Hutton Vale Farm

Hutton Vale Farm is in the Barossa Valley and is owned by the Angas family. They are renowned for their fine wine, quality wool, free-range natural pasture lamb and hand-made artisan produce. They are dedicated to the land on which they live and committed to enhancing the natural, cultural and community landscape.

Hutton Vale Farm was established all the way back in 1843 by John Howard Angas who was just 19 when he arrived in the Barossa. The Angas family remain pioneers who use sustainable practices to produce incredible wines capturing the true essence of the terroir. Now seventh-generation Stuart and Caitlin Angas are a brother and sister duo who are bringing the knowledge of the past and applying their skills to continue on the legacy.

What I loved about the Hutton Vale Farm Grenache Mataro 2012

Like the 2017, the Hutton Vale Farm Grenache Mataro 2012 has a great story behind it. The Grenache was planted in the 1960s in a vineyard where the soil is so tough that some of the plantings didn’t take. New cuttings were acquired and just happened to be Mataro. Rather than start all over again, they made this beautiful Grenache Mataro blend.

I absolutely adored this wine, maybe even more so than the 2017! It was honestly hard to pick a favourite, and I’m certainly glad I have more of the range to try.

The wine had a beautiful aroma full of fruit. Think plum and strawberry, similar to the 2017. It also had a hint of savoury herb and leather, balanced by flavours of extended aging including chocolate and tobacco. This followed through to the palate which was soft and incredibly smooth. The flavours were absolutely delicious with notes of oak, chocolate, spice and leather. Each sip had me unpacking more.

The palate itself was rich and complex yet really soft and supple. I found the wine to be beautifully balanced and absolutely delicious sip after sip. It didn’t take us long to polish off!

This wine is a higher price point but totally worth it for how enjoyable it is to drink. It would make a great gift as it is perfect for enjoying now – no need to cellar. Or you could nab the 2017 and keep it for a few years: the way this wine has aged shows that a few years in the cellar would never go astray.

What to enjoy it with

The Hutton Vale Farm Grenache Mataro 2012 is perfectly paired with a good meal, like its 2017 counterpart. I think this wine would pair beautifully with braised beef or lamb. Something complex and rich to go with those flavours. I know for the 2017 I suggested BBQ but I think this would be at home with something slow-cooked.

In summary: Hutton Vale Farm Grenache Mataro 2012

It was so fun comparing the two vintages of this wine and honestly, you cannot go wrong with either of them. The Hutton Vale Farm Grenache Mataro 2012 is truly a delightful experience to drink, and I really enjoyed the additional aged notes in the wine. I loved the flavours of fruit upfront that lead to a soft and smooth finish with fine tannins. This wine was complex yet elegant, and simply delicious. Those added notes of chocolate and oak really made the wine extra special. It is a perfect wine for a gift, a special occasion or as a splurge purchase.

You can purchase the latest vintage of this wine and find out more about Hutton Vale Farm, by visiting their website here. Alternatively, I’ve found this vintage at a couple of online retailers like this one.

Note: I was sent this wine as a sample. I was under no obligation to post about it.