St Hugo Barossa Valley Shiraz 2023
G 95
A vibrant maroon hue, the St Hugo range seems to be one of the more underrated collections among top wines in this country. With wines of this quality, just why that should be remains a mystery. This is a complete style, finely crafted with everything perfectly in place and ideally balanced. The nose gives us aromas of mulberries, mocha, black fruits, plums and chocolate. There are early signs of the complexity that will surely follow. A wine of focus, force, direction, fine tannins, bright acidity and great length. This is a cracker. Drink now–2040 Stonehouse Neldner Vineyard Old Vines Shiraz 2023 G 95 The vines providing the fruit for this Barossa gem are from the Neldner Family Contour Vineyard, which was planted back in the 1950s. 18% whole bunches used in the ferment, the remainder whole berries. After 12 days, basket pressing into a mix of American and French oak, 15% of which was new. These vessels were then home to the wine for the next year and a half for maturation. Under Diam. The colour is near opaque black with a magenta rim. This is big, bold and wonderfully chocolaty. A classic Barossa Valley Shiraz – plush, generous and approachable. There is good use of oak, providing attractive vanillin notes, along with typical aromas of mocha, coffee beans, leather, blackberries and cocoa powder. There is good focus and density, but the balance is so well defined that the wine seems to dance. Fine tannins, cushiony and abundant, the wine has serious length, and exhibits pleasing freshness and juiciness. It will provide pleasure for 10–20 years. Love it. Drink now– 2045 Tarrawatta Wines Ambervale Shiraz 2022 G 95 Chosen from the estate’s best blocks, this is bottled under cork. A delicious Eden Valley Shiraz, the colour is an opaque maroon, while the nose exhibits notes of chocolate, liquorice, Vegemite, cloves, black cherries and cassis. There is tight oak still apparent, well handled. A sleek and slippery texture with abundant, very fine and almost disappearing tannins. There is impressive length. A fifteen-year proposition, dark chocolate very much dominates the palate. Love it. Drink now–2040 Teusner Albert Shiraz 2022 G 95 Deep crimson. Intense blackberry dark chocolate aromas with marzipan/ roasted chestnut notes. Elemental and concentrated with deep-set pure blackberry fruits, velvety textures and well-balanced but noticeable marzipan, roasted chestnut new oak notes. Finishes chocolaty and long. The oak will fold into the wine with a few more years of bottle age. Worth the wait, I would think. Drink 2027–2040
South Australia Wine Guide 2026 | Barossa
97
Powered by FlippingBook