St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2021
Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2009
G 94
G 94
Stuart Blackwell is one of the Barossa’s most popular winemakers and has been seen as the face of St Hallett for decades. This is a worthy tribute to him. The grapes here hail from the sub-regions of the northern Barossa, Ebenezer, Greenock and Moppa Hills. An opaque magenta, there is some oak evident here but it is masterfully handled. Rich, ripe and just delicious, the nose offers aromas swirling through cassis, blackberries, vanilla, cold tea, delicatessen meats, liquorice and coffee grinds. The wine has fine acidity, impressive length and sleek tannins, though overall, is a savoury style. Enjoy this any time over the next 12 to 15 years. Love it. Drink now–2039 St Hallett Wines Blackwell Shiraz 2022 G 94 Deep crimson. Blackberry, dark plum aromas with dark chocolate notes. Dense and vigorous with blackberry dark plum fruits, bitter dark chocolate notes and gravelly tannins. Finishes crisp, firm and fruit sweet. Still in parts, but should develop quite
Medium-deep crimson. Intense blackcurrant dark chocolate, roasted chestnut, vanilla tobacco leaf aromas. Superbly well-developed wine with inky deep cassis, praline, mocha flavours, lovely mid-palate volume, dense grainy tannins and underlying marzipan, roasted walnut, tobacco notes. A lovely firm muscular finish with attractive chocolaty/dark berry fruits. 20 months’ maturation in 35% new and seasoned Yalumba-coopered French barriques and Hungarian hogsheads. 13.5% alc
Drink now–2035 Z Wine Rustica Shiraz 2023
G 94
Medium-deep crimson. Attractive blueberry, blackberry, touch liquorice aromas. Inky deep ripe blackberry, black cherry, blueberry fruits and persistent chocolaty tannins. Fruit-driven, velvety-textured wine with fresh linear acidity. Slurpy and delicious early drinking style. 14.5% alc Drink now–in a while. Henschke Five Schillings Shiraz Mataro 2023 G 93+ Medium-deep crimson. Fresh dark cherry, elderberry, plum, black olive, amazing graphite, herb garden notes. Dark elderberry, black cherry, chinotto, black olive fruits, lead pencil notes, fine slinky tannins and well-balanced crunchy acidity. Some al dente textures at the finish. Attractive inky density and juicy dark berry fruits. Ready to drink but should further harmonise over the next few years. 75% Shiraz, 25% Mataro. 10 months’ maturation in 3% new French oak and 97% seasoned oak hogsheads. 14.5% alc Drink now–2028 + Langmeil Orphan Bank Shiraz 2021 G 93+ Medium-deep crimson. Blackberry, dark chocolate, slightly petrichor aromas with herb notes. Pure fruited wine with ample blackberry dark cherry fruits, persistent chalky al dente tannins and some cedarwood notes. Chocolaty and crisp at the finish. Generous and flavourful with gentle vigour. 14.8% alc Drink now–2030 Arila Gardens Old Vine Shiraz Grenache 2022 G 93 Medium-deep crimson. Intense dark plum, dark cherry, chocolaty aromas with espresso notes. Generous dark berry, musky plum, liquorice flavours with mocha notes, very good mid-palate volume and fine loose-knit granular textures. Finishes a touch grippy with cola/chinotto notes. Drink now–2030
well. 14.5% alc Drink 2025–2036 St Hallett Wines Higher Earth Syrah 2022
G 94
Deep crimson. Dark chocolate, elderberry, black cherry aromas with herb garden notes. Concentrated and inky deep with fresh buoyant dark cherry, blackberry, hint rhubarb flavours, attractive mid-palate richness and long chewy firm textures. Peppery/aniseed notes at the finish. 14.5% alc Drink now–2030 Thistledown Bachelor’s Block Shiraz 2021 G 94 This is a cracking Shiraz from the Barossa Valley sub-region of Ebenezer, from a stunning vintage. This particular block stands out for the team almost every year, and hence, is made as a single site wine. Under diam. 35% whole bunches are used in the making of this wine, which is pressed into 300-litre French hogsheads for 14 months maturation. A dark magenta in colour, the wine offers notes of warm earth, dried herbs, blackberries, cocoa powder and chocolate. The palate sees a move to more smoked meats, coffee grind and blueberry flavours. It is generous and approachable with silky tannins, good balance, a pleasing ripeness and a lingering finish. Enjoy over the next eight to 12 years, during which period, there is every reason to believe that the score will rise even further. Drink now–2036 Welland Old Hands Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 G 94 Deep crimson, Pure cassis, touch mocha aromas with brambly/violet. Supple and sweet-fruited with blackcurrant. mocha, parma violet flavours, fine sinewy textures, very good mid-palate volume and mineral length. 14% alc Drink now–2030
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The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus
South Australia 2024
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