Walsh, wished to reinvigorate and set a new direction for Yalumba and the millennial generation of fine wine drinkers. Changing tastes, new expectations, and innovative technologies and practices had opened up new possibilities and exciting opportunities. HERITAGE – REDEFINED When the 1988 The Octavius was first made, it was the beginning of a more imaginative and ambitious era of winemaking and brought all of the elements of Yalumba’s remarkable vineyard resources, winemaking skills, unique coopered oak and storied history together. Although the first vintages were released commercially, they were largely experimental wines. There were initial ideas that an ultra-premium The Octavius could follow the success of the iconic 1962 Penfolds 60A Cabernet Shiraz, which was based on Coonawarra and Barossa fruit. But Robert Hill- Smith’s preference for a shiraz based on heirloom vineyards from the country all around was deemed a more suitable fit for small oak aging, regional definition and authenticity of the style. The decision to mature the wine in Yalumba coopered octaves, crafted from the barrel-heads of puncheons, neatly honoured the Hill-Smith family’s fine wine tradition. During the 1990s, the new oak component was toned down to enhance the balance and impact of the wines. Since the early 2000s, Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz has reached a compelling consistency across vintages, with proven cellaring quality. This is well-reflected in the secondary wine auction market where it has become valued by wine collectors for its longevity, singularity of character and voice of place. For instance, The Octavius Shiraz has been included in Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine since 2005. Behind the development of The Octavius Shiraz are the remarkable surviving plantings of 19 th and early 20 th century vineyards. When Yalumba declared its Old Vine Charter, the intent was to quantify the meaning and importance of Barossa region’s old vine legacy. The wine community soon adopted the classification of vineyard age to highlight the living heritage of 19 th century and early 20 th century vines. Phylloxera has not reached South Australia because of strict quarantine regulations and luck, and hence the Barossa is home to the largest acreage of 19 th century vines in the world. Behind every one of these vineyards is a
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The Vintage Journal – Verticals
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