Barossa Wine Guide 2025

Cimicky Estate Autograph Cabernet Shiraz 2022

Eisenstone Moppa SR806 Shiraz 2022

G 96

G 96

Such an impressive example of Barossa Shiraz here, this is made from grapes harvested from the Richardson Vineyard, located on the boundary of Greenock and Moppa. It spends 20 months in French oak, half of which is new. 800 bottles. This is the darkest red colour and offers the most gorgeous perfumes. It is ripe, rich, full of life, and so very approachable. Notes of black cherries, florals, aniseed and chocolate, with a hint of cherry cola emerging on the palate. The oak has been beautifully crafted here. There is balance, intensity and even a touch of elegance throughout. There is bright acidity, energy, soft and silky tannins, and the balance really is immaculate. This has such a promising future with at least eight to 12 years ahead. Brilliant stuff. Drink now–2036 Eisenstone Richardson Vyd. Moppa SV906 Shiraz 2022 G 96 The grapes here hail from further up the slope in the Richardson Vineyard than those which provide the fruit for their Moppa Shiraz SR806. The wine spends 20 months maturing in French oak, half of which is new. 1600 bottles. Inky maroon hue, the nose reveals notes of mocha, cassis, smoked meats, soy, mulberries, aniseed, chocolate and black cherries. A really appealing nose, just gorgeous. The palate is seamless with such fine balance, silky tannins and drive. Good intensity for the full length of this very fine wine. Coffee beans emerge on the palate. This is a 15-year- plus proposition. Drink now–2039 Elderton Wines Helbig 1915 Shiraz 2022 G 96 Medium-deep crimson. Fragrant and polished wine with lifted dark cherry stone fruit, vanilla hint grilled nut, wax polish aromas. Supple, inky and smooth with dark cherry, strawberry, apricot flavours, fine slinky/chocolaty textures, attractive mid- palate volume and well integrated aniseed notes. Finishes peppery and minerally. From the 1915-planted Helbig Vineyard. Drink 2026–2038 14.5% alc Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz 2022 G 96 Deep crimson. Liquorice, dark cherry, blackberry marzipan aromas. Generously concentrated and velvety textured with pure blackberry, praline flavours, plentiful graphite/chocolaty tannins, and attractive mocha, roasted almond notes. A classical Barossa Shiraz with the volume, richness and torque for long-term ageing. 14.5% alc Drink 2026–2045 Head Wines The Brunette Shiraz 2022 G 96 Deep colour. Intense black cherry, marzipan roasted walnut aromas with a hint of wax polish. Buoyant dark cherry pastille, dark plum, blackberry fruits, lovely fine graphite, hint bittersweet tannins and well-balanced marzipan, roasted walnut notes. Finishes inky and long with dark chocolate nuances. A classical Barossa Valley Shiraz with hint ferruginous vigour. Drink now–2035 14.5% alc

Deep crimson. Lovely blackberry pastille, cassis aromas with some praline, hint fennel notes. Inky deep and voluminous with ample dark berry fruits, superb chocolaty textures, a hint of herb/leafy notes and some vanilla, marzipan oak. A touch of aniseed at the finish. A beautifully balanced wine with the richness of shiraz offset by the vigour and animation of cabernet sauvignon. Cork. Drink now–2038 14.5% alc Dandelion Vineyards Red Queen of the Eden Valley Shiraz 2022 G 96 This is the 15th vintage of the Red Queen and must surely be one of the very best they have released. The grapes hail from Colin Kroehn’s Eden Valley Shiraz vineyard, which was planted back in 1912. Maturation is in an equal mix of new and 1-year-old French oak barriques. An opaque maroon hue, this wine is generous and plush and yet manages to remain elegant and refined. Not an easy tightrope to traverse. The aromas weave through cassis, mocha, florals, chocolate, liquorice, coffee beans and delicatessen meats. The structure is seamless, the balance superb and the length excellent. Fine acidity runs the length through to silky tannins. This superb Eden Valley Shiraz will provide great pleasure, not only today, but for the forthcoming 10 to 12 years. Drink now–2036 Eisenstone Marananga SR804 Shiraz 2022 G 96 Roennfeldt Road in the Marananga sub-region of the Barossa is a bit legendary and it is home to the vineyard providing the grapes for this absolute star Barossa Shiraz. From a wonderful vintage, the wine is matured in French oak, half of it new, for 20 months. 800 bottles. Inky maroon hue, the nose swirls about a weave of aromas, including chocolate, molten dark rich chocolate, black cherries, mocha, soy, cloves and blackcurrants. Deft oak handling here, as it is across the range. A wine of drive, balance, and intensity and great length. There are soft, almost slurry-like tannins. This is still so young, but what a promising future ahead of it. Enjoy over the next 10 to 15 years. Drink now–2039 Eisenstone Mattscheoss Greenock SR901 Shiraz 2022 G 96 A stellar Barossa Shiraz, this hails from the Mattscheoss Vineyard on the western side of Greenock Creek, from vines in excess of 50 years of age. Maturation is in French oak for 20 months, half of it new. Barrel selection informs the final blend. Just 800 bottles. Black/maroon, perhaps of all the wines in the range, this was the one that really opened up after (perhaps this should read needed) time in glass. Blackberries, cassis, aniseed, cocoa powder, tobacco leaves and chocolate are all present here. The wine has real intensity, which is maintained for the full journey, and offers immaculate balance. Of all the wines in the range, this is one of the leading contenders for early complexity. There are sleek tannins here and we see notes of warm earth emerge on the palate. This has a long and promising future, with at least 10 to 15 years ahead of it. Drink now–2039

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The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus

South Australia 2024

77

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