SA Wine Guide 2025

Sons of Eden Zephyrus Shiraz 2022

Seppeltsfield Grenache 2024

G 94

Always a pleasure to see a couple of different vintages of the same wine together and here we have this recent cracking Grenache with its predecessor, the 2023. As much as we enjoyed the 2023, we absolutely love this latest release. It is just more of everything. The colour is a vibrant crimson with the nose offering such gorgeous aromas, with plums, floral fragrances and chocolate. We also have cranberries and cherries, with delicatessen meats. There is such a seductive texture and the palate sees the flavours move more to the chocolate cherry and raspberry notes end of the spectrum. Fine balance, bright acidity, medium weight and very good length, the wine lingers with silky tannins in support. Utterly delicious and should remain so for at least the next four to six years. Drink now–2030 Seppeltsfield Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2022 G 94 Deep crimson. Attractive musky plum, black cherry, hint oyster shell aromas. Inky textured and smooth wine with supple black cherry musky plum, aniseed flavours, fine loose-knit slinky tannins and well-balanced roasted walnut/savoury notes. Bittersweet, tangy and lacy textured at the finish with liquorice nuances. Drinking very well now–2028 14.3% alc Sieger Estate ERBE E3 Shiraz 2021 G 94 We are told that ‘ERBE’ means heritage and the team see this wine as reflecting the heritage of their vineyards. Jo Irvine is the winemaker. Under cork, just 14,800 bottles made. A vibrant maroon colour, the nose exhibits well-handled oak, as well as some spicy notes of cassis, chocolate, soy, blackberries, florals and liquorice. It is seamless and seductive, neatly balanced with good acidity, silky tannins and impressive length. This will offer pleasure for the next 12 to 15 years. Drink now–2039 Sieger Estate Block 178 Barossa GSM 2021 G 94 There is limited production of this delicious Barossa GSM. The wine has a deep red colour. It is plush, silky, opulent and generous – what is not to like about that! The flavours weave through chocolate, coffee beans, dry herbs, cassis and blackberries. The supple texture and seamless structure provide a solid base for a really likeable red blend and we see more chocolate emerging on the palate. A wine with impressive length, this will drink beautifully for at least the next 10 to 12 years. Drink now–2036 Sieger Estate Frederick BLK 3 Shiraz Grenache 2021 G 94 For me, of all the wines from their latest release, this is the one that most excited me. Limited in production (it says ‘100’, but I’ve no idea if that is 100 bottles, cases or swimming pools), the colour here is an inky black maroon. Plushness and generosity is the hallmark of this Shiraz Grenache blend. There are notes of dried herbs, bay leaves, blackberries, mocha and coffee beans. There is a supple texture with vibrant acidity that is juicy and seductive with very good length, there really is much to like. Enjoy over the next 10 to 12 years or more. Drink now–2036

Medium-deep crimson. Expressive and buoyant wine with ample blackberry dark chocolate, hint liquorice aromas. Concentrated wine with pure blackberry pastille fruits, grainy firm tannins and underlying praline, mocha notes, Finishes firm and juicy, A classic modern style with all the elements yet to integrate. 14.5% alc Drink 2025–2035 Sorby Adams Galle Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 G 94 Deep crimson. Cassis, blackberry bush garrigue aromas with some roasted walnut notes. Dense blackberry, blackcurrant fruits, plentiful gravelly tannins and underlying savoury notes. Chocolaty, peppery and crisp at the finish with liquorice notes. Well rounded and balanced wine. 14% alc Drink now–2034 Sorby Adams Le Verrier Shiraz 2021 G 94 The wine is named in honour of Simon Adams’ ancestor, John Couch Adams, who was one of the mathematicians who proved the existence of Neptune. Le Verrier is, apparently, one of the five Rings of Neptune. The wine spent two years maturing in French oak hogsheads, 30% new. It is sealed with QORK. An opaque maroon hue, this is a big, bold, full-flavoured, full throttle Barossa Shiraz, from a superb vintage. Notes of black fruits, liquorice, coffee beans, dark chocolate and plums abound. Seamless in structure with bright acidity and sleek tannins, this is very long, with good concentration throughout. Big and powerful, expect this to provide pleasure for at least the next 12 to 15 years. Drink now–2039 Sorby Adams The Parish Hall St Hugh’s Shiraz 2021 G 94 Simon Adams, winemaker here as well as owner and general everything, has bottled three fine Barossa Shiraz as a tribute to his great uncle Keith, a local Anglican Parish Minister, back in the fifties. Each of the three wines gives a nod to a discrete parish. They are a trio of superb wines, all hailing from the fabulous 2021 vintage. This one spent two years in French oak hogsheads. This parish is at Angaston and the nearby vineyards in the Eden Valley have provided the fruit. Deep maroon hue, the nose exhibits spices, chocolate, liquorice, cocoa powder and plums. Rich and generous, there is good extraction, leading to a supple and seductive texture. Showing excellent length and sleek tannins, this will age wonderfully well in good cellars and provide pleasure for at least a decade. Drink now–2034 Soul Growers Slow Grown Shiraz 2022 G 94 Medium-deep crimson, Fragrant raspberry, cassia aromas with hints of roasted walnut espresso notes. Dark plum, raspberry, hint minerally/saline flavours, supple sweet ripe tannins and underlying savoury notes. Finishes claret firm with sweet juicy fruits. Buoyant and expressive with very good flow and mineral length. 14.5% alc Drink now–keep for a while.

110

The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus

South Australia 2024

111