Flovilla Thatch was the dentist’s assistant in the Russ Meyer boob-flick “Beneath the Valley of the Super-Vixens". The name was mis-remembered after a heady night of blending but stuck and this vineyard has been known as Clovella since. The label bears no relation to Russ Meyer's steamy ouput but the sultry nature of the wine does. The design inspiration is all about the meeting of mouths, that energy before lips meet whether lips meeting a glass of wine or each other. Two varietals blending into one.
Clovella is a field planting of roughly 70/30 Mataro and Grenache. It is a 40 year old vineyard from the Gomersal sub-district of the Barossa Valley that Rolf Binder and Noel Young have been cultivating themselves for many years. The wine spends 22 months in older French oak. The purpose of this wine is to show Mataro and Grenache with some development rather than the super-juicy-young-bright Grenache of the moment.
In the early 1990s, Magpie identified this special site - a single vineyard of Grenache and Mourvèdre. After an olympic blending exercise one night with the wine from here, they name the vineyard 'Clovella'. This wine is a heady embrace of dark spice; it's no coincidence that there’s a distinct clove note in this wine. Bright, fresh, textural in spite of 22 months aging in older French oak. Soft, more-ish and foody.
Smalltown Vineyards Clovella Mataro Grenache starts with cassis, a nose full of promise. Clove and black pepper spice. The palate is dark and sultry with a dried fruit appeal. It finishes with a gentle lick of oak from the time the wine spends in oak.
Drink with braises and stews: long slow cooked roasts of pork or lamb.
Please note: All case wine orders can take between 7-10 days for delivery.
Country: Australia
Region: Barossa, South Australia
Grapes: Grenache 60%, Mataro 40%
ABV: 14.5%
Volume: 6 x 75cl
Vintage: 2019
Suitable for Vegetarians: No
Suitable for Vegans: No