Kalleske Clarry's Grenache Shiraz Mataro: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Savoury, Herbal & Food-Friendly

A juicy, medium-bodied Barossa GSM with plenty of fragrance and a clear savoury edge. Dark rose florals, musk and sweet spice sit over strawberry, cherry and raspberry fruit, with dried herbs, forest floor and a faint choc-mint note adding complexity. The palate is bright and energetic rather than heavy, with gentle tannins, fresh acidity and subtle seasoned-oak polish. It’s an easy wine to drink, but there is enough structure and detail to keep it serious.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable
• Crafted by Kalleske — a seventh-generation Barossa family estate at Greenock
• Dark rose florals, musk, sweet spice, strawberry, cherry and raspberry with a savoury herbal edge
• Includes old-vine Grenache from blocks dating back to the 1940s, with low-yielding vines across more than a dozen estate blocks
• Past releases of Clarry’s GSM have won major show awards, including Organic Wine of the Year and Gold medals
• 14.0% ABV

Tasting Notes

Clarry’s GSM is built around fragrance, freshness and drinkability rather than sheer weight. Dark rose florals, musk and sweet spice lift out first, followed by strawberry, cherry and raspberry fruit. Dried herbs, forest floor and a subtle choc-mint note add a savoury layer that stops the wine from reading as simply fruity. On the palate it is medium-bodied, lively and balanced, with juicy red fruit, gentle tannins and a polished finish shaped by older oak rather than obvious barrel flavour. The style is open and generous, but still structured.

Winemaking

Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro were harvested separately over a six-week window from late February to early April. Each parcel was fermented on wild yeast in open-top fermenters, with hand pump-overs twice daily during fermentation. After seven to fourteen days on skins, the wine was traditionally pressed and then matured for ten months in very old oak hogsheads. The use of seasoned oak is deliberate: it preserves the fresh fruit profile while allowing the blend to settle and gain texture before bottling.

Vineyard & Vintage

The fruit comes from more than a dozen Kalleske vineyard blocks at Greenock in the Barossa Valley, with a mix of soil types and vine ages contributing to the final blend. The oldest Grenache block dates back to 1940, with other vines up to fifty years old. These low-yielding vines grow mainly in shallow sandy loam over deep red clay and limestone. The 2024 season delivered excellent fruit quality, with even ripening and good natural balance across the varieties, which shows in the wine’s bright fruit, freshness and composure.

Why We Love It

This is a good example of why GSM works so well in the Barossa. Grenache brings fragrance and red fruit, Shiraz adds depth, and Mataro gives savoury structure. The result is a blend with plenty of flavour but no excess weight, and the use of seasoned oak keeps the style clear and food-friendly. It delivers genuine character at a very accessible price point.

Food Pairing

This wine suits dishes that play to its bright fruit, spice and savoury herbal notes. It works well with grilled meats, tomato-based dishes and vegetable-led plates with a bit of char or earthiness. The medium body and moderate tannin make it particularly flexible at the table. Try matching this wine with →

• Lamb koftas with yoghurt and herbs — Find a Recipe
• Roast vegetable pasta — Find a Recipe
• Chargrilled pork skewers — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A versatile red for casual dinners, shared plates and nights when you want something with flavour and structure without moving into heavier territory.

Cellaring

Designed to drink well young, but it will hold comfortably over the short to medium term. The winery style and previous releases suggest a window of around now to 5 years, with the fruit becoming a little more savoury as it matures.

Producer

Kalleske is a seventh-generation family estate based at Greenock in the north-western Barossa, where the family has farmed since 1853. The vineyards have been certified organic and biodynamic since 1998, and the estate remains entirely family owned and estate grown. That farming approach is central to the wines: low-yielding vines, living soils and fruit that reflects site rather than heavy handling in the cellar. Clarry’s shows a more approachable side of the range, but the method is still firmly Kalleske — wild fermentation, open fermenters, basket pressing and restrained maturation in seasoned oak to keep the vineyard expression intact.

Related Wines To Try →

If you like this medium-bodied, savoury-fruited style, these are good next bottles to compare:

• Same producer, pure old-vine Grenache with more depth — Kalleske Old Vine Grenache
• Just down the road in the Barossa, another savoury GSM — Tscharke Elements Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre
• Richer Barossa Shiraz from the same estate — Kalleske Moppa Shiraz

FAQ

What does Kalleske Clarry's Grenache Shiraz Mataro taste like?

It is a juicy, medium-bodied Barossa red with dark rose florals, musk, sweet spice, strawberry, cherry and raspberry fruit. Dried herbs, forest floor and a subtle savoury edge give it extra detail, and the finish stays bright and balanced.

What is a GSM blend?

GSM stands for Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro. Grenache usually brings fragrance and red fruit, Shiraz adds body and darker spice, and Mataro contributes savoury structure and firmness.

Is this wine dry?

Yes, it is a dry red wine. The fruit is juicy and expressive, but the palate finishes dry with fresh acidity and gentle tannin.

How full-bodied is it?

This sits in the medium-bodied range rather than the full-bodied end of Barossa reds. It has enough weight to handle food, but it stays more energetic and easier to drink than a bigger Shiraz-led style.

Does it need decanting?

Not essential, but 15 to 20 minutes in a glass or small decanter will help open the aromatics. It is already quite approachable on release, so you do not need a long decant.

What temperature and glassware work best?

Serve it at around 15–17°C in a medium to large red wine glass. Slightly cooler service helps keep the fruit fresh and the structure tidy.

Can I cellar this wine?

Yes, over the short to medium term. It is drinking well now, but it should hold for around 3 to 5 years under good storage conditions, with the savoury notes becoming a little more pronounced over time.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

It is not a No Added Preservative wine, so it does contain sulphites. Some occur naturally during fermentation, and certified organic and biodynamic wines are made under lower permitted sulphite levels than conventional wines.

Is this wine vegan friendly?

Yes, it is listed as vegan suitable. It is also certified organic and certified biodynamic.

What food works best with this wine?

It suits lamb, grilled pork, tomato-based pasta, chargrilled vegetables and dishes with herbs or gentle spice. The balance of fruit, acidity and moderate tannin makes it a very adaptable food wine.

Who is this wine likely to suit?

It will suit drinkers who enjoy medium-bodied red blends with bright fruit, savoury detail and less oak influence. If you like Rhône-style blends or want something lighter than a full Barossa Shiraz, this is a good fit.

(SKU: KA_CLA_CV)