Hayes Family Barossa Valley Alice’s Mataro 2021

Hayes Family Wines is a small, family-owned producer based in Stone Well, on the Western Ridge of the Barossa Valley. Founded by Brett Hayes and helmed by winemaker Andrew Seppelt — a Barossa veteran with over 25 years' experience, including a stint as GM and winemaker at Torbreck — the label is built on old, dry-grown vineyards farmed with minimal intervention, letting each site and vintage speak for itself. The Estate Vineyard is Certified Organic and Certified Sustainable, and Hayes has carried a five-star rating in the James Halliday Wine Companion every year since launching.

The fruit for this Mataro was grown high in the hills above Ebenezer on the famed Schulz vineyard, certified organic and sourced from old bush vines. Picked from two blocks at perfect ripeness, late in the season but with the natural freshness that comes from this vineyard's elevation, the grapes were hand-picked, destemmed and fermented in a small open-top fermenter.

The result is bright and lifted, with florals and red fruit character, medium body and fine tannin structure. It balances the natural fruit drive of the vintage with the savouriness and structure that's unique to Mataro in a great season. Drinking very well on release, and built to continue improving for many years to come.