Hentley Farm The Beast Shiraz 2023
G 96
A rare creature, this one, a wine which really does live up to its name, The Beast. There is unbridled power in this wine with serious concentration and intensity. From the D Block of the Seppeltsfield Vineyard, the wine spends 22 months in French oak, 60% of it new. An inky dark opaque purple/maroon, the nose offers notes of leather and liquorice, mulberries, dark chocolate, blackberries, clothes, soy and bay leaves. Seriously intense throughout, there is real oomph here and excellent persistence. The wine finishes with supple tannins and should drink beautifully for the next
15–20 years. Drink now–2045 Hewitson Strawberry Hill Shiraz 2023
G 96
Medium-deep crimson. Fresh blackberry pastille, raspberry fruits with lovely mocha, roasted chestnut, dried rose notes. Smooth and velvety textured wine with lovely pure blackberry, raspberry fruits, fine loose-knit textures, underlying roasted chestnut, marzipan notes and persistent quartz-like freshness. Builds up cedar, hint leafy firm with chinotto/ dark chocolate/ bittersweet nuances. A beautifully balanced wine with super definition, vinosity and flow. Drink now–2038 Hoffmann Family Vineyards Old Vine Lowke Block Shiraz 2021 G 96 Deep colour. Lovely fresh mulberry, blackberry pastille, mocha aromas with marzipan notes. Exceptionally well concentrated with refined blackberry pastille, mocha, marzipan, hin cedar notes and persistent fine chocolaty tannins. Wax polish/ spicy notes at the finish with an aniseed kick. Beautiful wine. Drink now–2040 Jacob’s Creek Johann Barossa Valley Shiraz Cabernet 2018 G 96 From a great vintage for the region, and clearly showing the benefit of that extra maturity, this is a deep blood red/maroon hue. The nose gives us blackberries, chocolate, coffee beans, iodine and graphite, as well as a touch of soy and beefstock. Exciting stuff. The wine has focus, length, and ultra-fine tannins, abundant though they might be. It enjoys excellent oak integration and serious length. This is all class, a superb example of the great Aussie red blend. And the chocolate just keeps coming. A twenty-year proposition, if you have the patience. Under cork. Drink now–2045 John Duval Wines Eligo Shiraz 2021 G 96 Deep crimson. Pure blackberry, liquorice aromas with crème brûlée, mocha notes. Inky deep and sweet with plentiful blackberry, mocha, spice flavours and fine chalky firm textures. Lovely mid-palate richness and inky density. Sweet and savoury at the finish. Drink 2029–2040
South Australia Wine Guide 2026 | Barossa
75
Powered by FlippingBook