Yalumba The Steeple Shiraz 2021
G 97
Anyone who ever saw Darren Lockyer or David Campese slice through an opposition backline, Wayne Gretzky on ice, or Michael Jordan on a basketball court will understand the concept of gliding. This supple and sleek texture, with its silky tannins, is the vinous equivalent, gliding effortlessly to a very long finish. From a stellar vintage, this is a single vineyard wine hailing from the sub-region of Light Pass. The vines, biodynamically grown, were planted back in 1919. Fair to say, much can be expected. And much is delivered. A wild ferment before the wine spent 16 months in oak, 15% of which is new, termed the Tonnellerie Sylvain’ Artistic Series’ barriques. They were made from a 365-year-old oak tree (not completely sure that if it was the marketing team, I’d promote chopping up such a venerable old oak tree, but we can say that its demise was not in vain). The wine has a black cherry hue, with a wonderfully enticing nose, which just screams first class Barossa Shiraz. Full of dark berries, chocolate, roast meats, cassis, bay leaves, sage, and mocha, the texture is plush in the extreme. Excellent oak integration (thankfully), there is a supple texture here and immaculate balance. Silky tannins, seriously good length and intensity maintained for the full journey, this is simply delicious, although it surely has at least 15 years ahead of it. Notes of graphite are more prevalent on the palate. It seems that this wine often takes a backseat to some of the others in the portfolio, which seems criminally unfair. This is a gem. Drink now–2040 Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Shiraz 2023 G 96+ Deep crimson. Classic blackberry dark chocolate aromas with marzipan, hint violet notes. Well-concentrated and inky deep with plentiful blackberry pastille, praline flavours, plentiful chalky / graphite/ al-dente tannins, very good mid-palate density and well-balanced marzipan, roasted chestnut notes. Finishes chocolaty with some cedarwood/ bittersweet notes. Still in parts, but lovely shape, volume and flow. Should develop very well. Drink 2028–2045 Torbreck Vintners The Factor Shiraz 2022 G 96+ Deep crimson. Very attractive dark chocolate dark berry wax polish, touch marzipan notes. Richly concentrated and flavourful with black cherry, dark plum stone fruit, cedar marzipan flavours, very good mid- palate richness and plentiful loose-knit grainy tannins. Finishes clearly firm with aniseed notes. Impressively dense and vigorous with lovely flow and length. Stylish and individually Torbreck in style. Let the elements fold further, though. Drink 2027–2038+ Barr Eden Estate Love Over Gold Shiraz 2020 G 96 Medium-deep crimson. Lovely black cherry, raspberry, mocha aromas with hints of bush garrigue. Generous and round with lovely black cherry, raspberry, panforte, mocha flavours and persistent chocolaty/ velvety tannins. Finishes bittersweet and minerally with chinotto/ negroni notes. Lovely balance, density, complexity and vigour. Drink now–2038
South Australia Wine Guide 2026 | Barossa
69
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