Burge Family Winemakers Draycott Reserve Shiraz 2022
G 97
Under cork, this wine is a barrel selection from the estate’s oldest blocks of Shiraz. It is restricted to those vintages considered worthy. Maturation is for two and a half years in a mix of new French and American oak hogsheads. An inky opaque maroon, the nose reveals notes of blackberries, plums, mocha, soy, cedar, tobacco leaves, truffles, cassis and chocolate. The oak integration has been deftly handled and the wine has superb balance and great length. Intensity runs for the full journey, along with a line of bright acidity, finishing with the silkiest of tannins. Stunning stuff. Drink now–2040 Charles Melton Nine Popes Red blend 2022 G 97 It is likely that some of today’s younger wine lovers are not familiar with just how important this wine is in the overall scheme of Australian vinous history. Basically, by putting Grenache front and centre in this blend and trumpeting it, Charlie Melton removed a great deal of the stigma that the variety had lived with for many decades. Wine lovers, both locally and afar, began to realise that there was an awful lot more to the variety than just to act as a workhorse, filling in blends, bulk wine, making Rosé and fortifieds, and even being used in muffins (oh, the indignity). This was the wine which started the avalanche of GSMs and solo varietal Grenache from regions like the Barossa and McLaren Vale with which we are now blessed. This vintage is a blend of Grenache and Shiraz with a dollop of Mataro. Maturation was mostly in French oak barriques. It is one thing to be the leader in a new trend. It is entirely different to remain at the forefront over the decades to follow. This wine has always been one of the best of its style. The colour is a dark crimson/purple. The wine is seamless, generous and superbly crafted, beautifully fragrant with the nose giving us notes of mocha, cassis, plums, chocolate and creamy red cherries. There is fine balance, sleek tannins, very serious length and the inevitable complexity is already emerging. A cracker. 15–20 years. Drink now–2045 Château Tanunda 150-Year-Old Vines Shiraz 2022 If 100-year-old vines were impressive, how about 150? What a priceless resource. Under cork, this comes from an exceptional vintage. There is incredible intensity here. The colour is black/maroon and the nose reveals aromas of chocolate, truffles, cloves, blackcurrants, graphite, beef stock and soy. There is exceptional oak integration throughout, and the wine is well focused. The intensity is an absolute highlight and never wavers. The structure is seamless, right through to the finest of tannins. This is incredibly long on the palate. It should have no difficulty in providing pleasure for at least the next thirty years. Drink now–2055 G 97
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The Vintage Journal
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