Teusner The Dog Strangler Barossa Valley Mataro 2018 is a rich, savoury and completely distinctive Barossa Mataro from one of the valley’s most celebrated boutique producers — earthy, complex and built with the dark fruit depth, meaty character and old-vine intensity that makes Mataro one of the most compelling and underrated varieties in the Barossa Valley.

Teusner is one of the Barossa Valley’s most celebrated boutique producers — founded by Kym Teusner and Michael Page in 2003 and built on a philosophy of sourcing the finest old-vine Barossa fruit and crafting wines of extraordinary depth and character with minimal intervention. The Dog Strangler takes its name from old Barossa folklore — Mataro vines were historically so vigorous and tangled that local legend had it they could strangle a dog. It’s a wine that wears its Barossa heritage with pride and delivers a style of red wine that is genuinely unlike anything else in the store.

My Wine Man

This is for someone who wants something genuinely different — a serious, savoury old-vine Barossa Mataro from one of the valley’s most celebrated boutique producers at an exceptional price.

Mataro — also known as Mourvèdre in France and Monastrell in Spain — is one of the Barossa Valley’s most ancient and distinctive varieties, with old vines that produce wine of extraordinary earthy complexity, dark fruit depth and meaty, savoury character that is completely unlike Shiraz or Grenache. Kym Teusner’s Dog Strangler is the finest expression of old-vine Barossa Mataro available — a wine of genuine character and complexity that rewards curiosity and adventurous palates.

At HK$159, this is exceptional value for an old-vine Barossa Mataro of this quality and distinctiveness — a wine that over-delivers significantly at the price.

In my view, this is one of the most interesting and distinctive reds in the store — savoury, complex and completely compelling.

What makes this wine stand out

This is all about old-vine Barossa Mataro character and Kym Teusner’s mastery of the valley’s most distinctive and underrated variety.

Dark plum, blackberry, black olive and dark chocolate sit at the core, with leather, earth, dried herbs, smoked meat and the characteristic savoury, meaty complexity that defines great old-vine Mataro. The palate is full-bodied with firm, structured tannins and a long, savoury finish that speaks to the quality of the ancient Barossa vines and the minimal-intervention winemaking philosophy.

The defining feature is the savouriness — this is a red wine of extraordinary earthy complexity and meaty depth that is completely unlike anything else in the store, with a character and distinctiveness that rewards adventurous palates and food pairing in equal measure.

Savoury, complex and completely compelling.

Style / drinking window

Full-bodied with dark plum, blackberry, black olive, leather, earth, dried herbs and smoked meat notes.

Firm structured tannins and fresh acidity provide depth, savouriness and a long, complex finish.

Drinking well now with decanting, with continued development over the next 6–10 years.

Why this is a smart buy

If you want a genuinely distinctive old-vine Barossa Mataro from one of the valley’s most celebrated boutique producers at an accessible price, this is exceptional value.

It delivers:

• old-vine Barossa Mataro character — earthy, savoury and meaty complexity that is completely unlike Shiraz or Grenache
• Kym Teusner’s minimal-intervention winemaking philosophy applied to one of the Barossa’s most ancient and distinctive varieties
• genuine originality and quality at a very honest price

Ideal for lamb shoulder, slow-cooked beef, charcuterie, aged hard cheese or any occasion that calls for something genuinely different and food-friendly.

Winemaker Insight

Hear directly from Kym Teusner on the philosophy behind The Dog Strangler Mataro and what makes this wine so consistently sought after.

Explore more Teusner and distinctive Barossa reds

• Teusner Big Jim Barossa Valley Shiraz 2018 → same producer / richer and more powerful / exceptional Barossa Shiraz
• John Duval Plexus Barossa Valley GSM 2019 → peer-level / Mataro-inclusive blend / Grange-maker
• Grant Burge Holy Trinity GSM 2013 → peer-level / decade of bottle age / savoury and complex

Life’s too short for bad wine.