From one of Australia’s most influential winemakers comes a modern expression of an old-world favourite. The Mr Mick Clare Valley Tempranillo 2022 is produced by legendary winemaker Tim Adams, one of the Top Ten Iconic Australian Winemakers, and named in honour of the great KH “Mick” Knappstein, whose progressive spirit helped shape the Clare Valley’s reputation for innovation. Clare’s warm days and cool nights mirror the central Spanish regions where Tempranillo thrives, delivering a perfectly balanced, juicy style that has become a favourite among locals and visitors to the Mr Mick restaurant.

The fruit is sourced from the estate’s Rogers and Sheoaks vineyards, including the Fechner Family’s Sheoaks site, then gently fermented for a week on skins to maximise colour and aromatic lift while keeping tannins fine and supple. The wine is pressed off skins and matured with a touch of French oak, giving gentle perfume and textural roundness without overwhelming the vibrant fruit. The result is a light-to-medium bodied Tempranillo that embraces freshness and drinkability, showing the Clare Valley’s distinctive red-fruit purity and approachable charm.

In the glass, the nose bursts with juicy fresh cherries and red plum, lifted by a subtle wood-smoke perfume from French oak, hints of roasted coffee bean and a savoury twist reminiscent of the Spanish classics. The palate is silky and smooth, offering waves of raspberry, dry spice and mocha above a fine backbone of tannin that gives shape and length without heaviness. It finishes clean, soft and lingering, and can be enjoyed now or cellared for up to ten years if you prefer deeper complexity.

A natural companion to shared plates and relaxed dining, this is Tempranillo designed for the table. The wine’s juicy red fruit and crunchy acidity make it a brilliant match with pizza, pasta and Mediterranean dishes layered with tomato, herbs, grilled meats or charred vegetables. In warmer months, it’s even better slightly chilled, picking up freshness and energy that pairs beautifully with summer salads, tapas, slow-roasted capsicum, jamón, or a bowl of spicy chorizo sautéed with garlic and olive oil.

A family-owned and operated winery, Mr Mick celebrates the Clare Valley’s flair for taking European classics and reshaping them with Australian brightness. The 2022 Tempranillo captures that spirit perfectly — vibrant, versatile and crafted for pure enjoyment, a perfect Paso Doble with a Clare Valley twist.