Tim Smith Wines Roussanne 2024
G 96
Medium pale colour. Waxy, apricot, ripe peach, pear skin aromas with hints of varnish. Generous and impactful with lovely waxy stone fruit flavours, bittersweet textures, lovely volume and fresh pure acidity. Characterful and delicious wine. Best to drink as a youngster. Drink now–soon Two Hands Aerope Shiraz 2020 G 96 Deep crimson. Lifted black cherry, earthy, hint panforte, wax polish aromas. Generous and buoyant with lovely blackberry pastille, mocha, espresso, Black Forest chocolate flavours, some wax polish/ truffle-like notes and fine velvety tannins. Builds up cedary firm at the finish. Very expressive and delicious to drink. Drink now–2045 Two Hands Spirit of Place 1918 Vines Shiraz 2022 G 96 Deep crimson. Inky, blackberry pastille, chinotto aromas with underlying roasted almond notes. Generously concentrated and gravelly textured wine with lovely blackberry pastille, chinotto, marzipan flavours and fine, loose-knit chalky tannins. Finishes firm and minerally. Very well-balanced wine with lovely density, vigour and length. Drink now–2038 Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine Barossa Shiraz Shiraz 2020 G 96 One of the legendary Barossa Shiraz releases, this is a fine addition to the Octavius line-up. Vines used here date back to 1854 (the Eden Valley component), while the name comes from the tradition of using octaves from the Yalumba cooperage. The blend is 69% Eden Valley and 31% Barossa, giving an average age of a rather impressive 111 years. The wine will spend the best part of two years maturing in a mix of French oak vessels, around one-quarter new. Under cork. An opaque maroon with a purple rim. This is still tight and poised, very youthful. If circumstances permit, give it another three to four years in the bottle before opening (though it is already rather delicious), and then enjoy over the following 15 to 20. The nose is all chocolate, mocha, cassis, delicatessen meats, spices, herbs, sage and tobacco leaves. This is extremely well structured, seamless with a creamy texture, balance, length, and abundant, silky tannins. There is really good intensity for the full journey. Great stuff and a wonderful climax to what is perhaps the finest collection of prestige wines I have seen from Yalumba. Drink now–2045
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