Welland Old Hands Shiraz 2021
In the Riesling classes, 47 current vintage wines were judged, with 33 medals, including seven golds, awarded. In the 2023 vintage or older class, of 32 entries, 25 medals and four golds were awarded. Every wine from 2021 back to 2011 reached a medal score. From my own tastings, vintage 2024 was undoubtedly a superb season in the region, a year when aromatics were a highlight across all winemaking approaches, showcasing classic orchard white floral top notes and cut citrus flesh and zest leaning towards lemon-scented limes. There were notes of rose and musk, as well as, in many wines, adding further attractive qualities. The year also delivered a more delicate and elegant style in most cases with fewer winemakers opting for high-powered and over-dominant acidity in their wines, preferring flavours to shine. It is definitely a very impressive year for Eden Valley’s benchmark white.
G 93
Medium-deep crimson. Fresh blackberry, cassis aromas with vanilla, mocha, shellac notes. Richly concentrated with blackberry, mocha, vanilla marzipan flavours, fine chocolaty textures, attractive mid-palate volume and fresh long acidity. 14.5% alc Drink now–2030 Welland Valley & Valley Shiraz 2022 G 93 Deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, dark chocolate, mocha with espresso, oyster shell, aniseed notes. Inky deep and densely packed wine with ample dark berry/ dark chocolate fruits, plentiful gravelly tannins and well-balanced mocha, cedar oak/liquorice notes. Grippy claret finish. 15% alc Drink now–2032 Welland Valley & Valley Shiraz 2023 G 93 A year maturing in American oak sets this plush, ripe and generous Barossa Shiraz on its journey. A dark cherry red, the nose offers most appealing aromas. We have plums, cassis, bay leaves and coffee beans. Well structured, the wine exhibits velvety tannins and a lingering finish. A wine which is full of life with bold flavours, providing utterly delicious drinking over the next six to eight years. This is seriously good value. Drink now–2032 Woods Crampton Barossa Shiraz 2022 G 93 The fruit here is from a single, low yielding and dry grown vineyard situated in Eden Valley. Cold soaking and a slow, temperature controlled ferment. 20% whole bunches with twice daily hand plunging followed by a year-and-a-half maturation in a mix of old and new French oak barriques. From a superb vintage. A very dark maroon, this is a wine with real depth. The nose exhibits notes of chocolate, warm earth, aniseed, bay leaves, black fruits and plums followed up by a lovely chocolatey palate. There is balance and concentration and a really lovely, long finish. A wine with 10 years ahead of it, this is a complete wine with so much to love. Drink now–2034 Z Wine Hedley Shiraz 2022 G 93 Medium-deep crimson. Fresh red cherry, red plum, cola aromas and flavours, fine slinky/graphite textures, very good mid-palate viscosity and mineral length. Expressive and vigorous fruit-driven wine. 14.5% alc Drink now–2028 Z Wine Julius Shiraz 2022 G 93 Medium-deep crimson. Intense dark chocolate, blackberry hint graphite aromas with hint violet notes. Well concentrated wine with blackberry, raspberry fruits, some camomile notes, grainy firm textures and savoury nuances. Some chinotto notes at the finish. 14.5% alc Drink now–2028.
Pewsey Vale Vineyard, Barossa, Eden Valley. Photo: Dragan Radocaj
136
The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus
South Australia 2024
137
Powered by FlippingBook