Good depth and hue; an unambiguously top-end Rhône blend with a delicious mix of black and red fruits, licorice and spice flavours; perfect tannin and oak inputs to a seriously good wine. Quality cork. Grenache/Mataro/Shiraz. Cork. 14.5% alc. Rating 96 Points Drink 2026 $32 Date Tasted Mar 09 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
 
Teusner Wines came into being late in 2001 when Kym Teusner witnessed a conversation between his girlfriend’s uncle and his brother. They were discussing the viability of an old Grenache vineyard, planted in the Northern Barossa Valley by their grandfather. The low yields and low prices being paid by the ‘Big Boys’ meant that the vineyard was running at a loss and was facing certain destruction! Kym was loath to hear this and approached his brother in law, now business partner, to see if they could scratch together enough cash to keep these gnarled old vines in the ground. In that first year they raised enough capital for only about a quarter of the fruit from that vineyard, but this was enough for the Riebke brothers to stall their plans for these precious old vines. They were aware of a few other old blocks that fruit could be sourced from, if required, and made the first release with 165 cases of 2002 Joshua. In addition to this about 8 hogsheads of Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz was put aside, destined to be released around 24 months later as Avatar.
 
Colour is a bit dull but it smells great - clean earth, spice and mixed berries with a little aniseed/menthol. The balance is particularly good with fine tannin and the barest hint of warmth showing through on the finish. What I like most, however, is that it falls to savoury and earthy rather than into the sticky Barossa confectionary trap that nobbles so many. All very good and it drinks like a champion too. Rated : 93 Points Tasted : Jan09 Alcohol : 14.5% Price : $32 Closure : Cork Drink : 2009 - 2014 Gary Walsh; The Wine Front
 
Old-vine Barossa grenache, mataro and shiraz blends are cult wines. Teusner's Avatar is finer and more vivacious than most of the genre. It has freshly crushed leafy raspberry and blackberry characters, with hints of warm spice, earthy complexity and very subtle oak. The juicy, satisfying palate has ripe flavour, lovely depth and fine, soft tannins. Drink over five years plus. Ralph Kyte-Powell - The Age Epicure Uncorked
 
Meet Teusner Joshua's big brother. Er, sister. She's fragrant and pretty, but deep and intense, with musky marshmallow sugar on her breath of blackcurrant and blackberry. The palate's sinuous and supple, with lovely firm tannins entwined in the lingering creme de cassis finish. This is very fine, dignified, brilliantly Barossan wine. Osso buco with black olives in the sauce. 93 points. Philip White - The Advertiser Food & Wine
 
A few years ago I solicited some peculiar looks when I described a wine (the 2002 Run Rig) as the 'best smelling wine going around'. Any one that tried that wine subsequently would not have thought I was such a weirdo. Fast forward 5 years and that mantle must surely belong to the Teusner Avatar 2006 though the saving grace here is you can almost pick up a dozen for the same price as a bottle of Run Rig. Man, however, does not live on smell alone and this wine is every bit as convincing in the mouth. It has layer upon layer of spice, fresh ripe berries, Christmas cake and just a mention of oak. Despite the 'generous' fruit flavours, the wine finishes long with the most pleasing savoury notes and a tannin structure that is played to perfection. You will think there is a hole in the glass such is the ease (and speed) that this goes down - remembering of course to drink in moderation!
 
Back to the Avatar and this is one of those rare instances where we offer a wine for $29.99 and still scream bargain. Made up of half old vine Grenache and a quarter each old vine Shiraz and Mataro, it is indeed a beautiful wine. Despite being a massive points winner and lead in the James Halliday Wine Companion, I feel we should be giving away more copies of Mattinson's Why The French Hate Us as they must scratch their head when they see Rhône styles wines of this quality for a price that wouldn't get you a sniff of Chateauneuf-Du-Pape! Now - 2019; Quality: Exceptional BW; WineStar© March 2009