Langmeil The Freedom 1843 Shiraz 2021
Charles Melton Grains of Paradise Shiraz 2019
G 96+
G 96
The fruit here hails from three of the Melton family’s best estate vineyards and spends a hefty, but hardly apparent, 28 months in American oak. The aim is a ‘darker, denser style’, in comparison to the Voices. The colour here is a vibrant maroon. This is a quintessential Barossa Shiraz and really looks good from such an excellent vintage. A few years under the belt helps. Quality Barossa fruit is evident, with a touch of oak. Notes of plums, mocha, cassis and black fruits, this is big and bold, seamless in structure with fine, satiny tannins, excellent length and immaculate balance. A 15-year proposition, if you have the patience, but superb drinking already. Such an impressive Barossa Shiraz. Drink now–2039 Chateau Tanunda 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz 2021 G 96 Incredible ancient vines are in play for this gorgeous Shiraz. Centenarian bush vines, ungrafted, the grapes are fermented in small open fermenters with hand plunging up to four times a day before basket pressing and then a couple of years maturing in French oak. The colour is near black, maroon. This is plush, ripe and serious, but seriously delicious showing generous flavours that are simply saturated. The nose gives coffee grinds, black fruits, soy, aniseed, cloves, mocha and plums. Good acidity runs the full journey and the wine is balanced, focused and offers excellent intensity, with sleek tannins. Hard to imagine anyone thinking that this is anything other than a cracking Barossa Shiraz. It simply screams of its origin and you can drink anytime over the next 15 to 20 years. Drink now–2044 Château Tanunda 150 Year Old Vines Grenache 2019 G 96 Medium crimson, Attractive musky red plum, strawberry aromas with some savoury notes. Beautifully concentrated and complex with supple red berry fruits, slinky textures, lovely mid-palate viscosity and fresh long acidity. A touch of aniseed at the finish. Drink now–2029 14.5% alc Château Tanunda Grand Barossa Shiraz 2022 G 96 Deep crimson. Pure ripe blackberry, cassis aromas with herb garden aniseed notes. Inky deep and flowing palate with generous ripe blackberry, blackcurrant fruits and superbly integrated tannins and savory oak. Finishes inky, minerally and dry. Superb early drinking style. Punching well above its weight. 14.5% alc Drink now– keep for a while. Chris Ringland Barossa Ranges Shiraz 2006 G 96 Medium-deep crimson. Lovely black cherry, graphite, wax polish aromas with hints of cedar, mocha, roasted walnut and wood varnish. Supple black cherry, blackberry pastille, graphite, touch earthy flavours, fine loose knit chalky textures, lovely mid- palate volume and fresh long acidity. Some liquorice notes at the finish. Drinking beautifully. Drink now–2030 14.8% alc
Deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, roasted coffee, mocha aromas with liquorice notes, Smooth and velvety textured wine with lovely dark cherry, blackberry, panforte, hint black olive flavours, firm chocolaty, touch ferruginous tannins and well integrated aniseed notes, Lovely mocha, espresso notes at the finish. Opulent and resonating wine with lovely density and muscular drive. Best to drink with a touch more bottle age, although balanced and exuberantly delicious now. Made from vines over 125 years of age. Drink 2026–2042 14.8% alc Arila Gardens Single Vineyard Grenache 2023 G 96 From a vineyard planted in the Moppa sub-region in 1900, this wine has a pleasing crimson-purple hue. We have spices, but the nose is dominated by an alluring mix of strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, coffee grinds, dried herbs, smoked meats and a hint of tomato bush. A wonderful and classic nose for Grenache, the tannins are a mix of silky and silty, but certainly quite abundant. There is great length, and the structure is both balanced and seamless. This has at least a decade ahead. A cracker. Drink now–2034 Bethany LE Reserve Shiraz 2021 G 96 This is the estate’s flagship, from their best parcels of old vine Bethany Shiraz. Around one-third of the wine sees new oak, a mix of French and American. Maroon/ purple in colour, this is a stunning Barossa Shiraz, all plushness and generosity. There is some early complexity already evident, and we have aromas of dark chocolate, blackberries, kitchen spices, mocha, soy, aniseed, cold tea and mulberries. Good energy throughout, the wine has bright acidity, great length, sleek and velvety tannins. It will provide delicious drinking for at least the next 12 to 15 years. Drink now–2039 Charles Melton Sparkling Red Disgorged Sparkling Red NV G 96 One of Australia’s greatest and most popular sparkling reds, this is made in the traditional manner, with the base wine aged for around two years in oak, and then tirage bottled to spend another five years on lees before dosage. With Aussie sparkling reds, this is usually much higher than most realise, providing elevated levels of sweetness, but the acidity helps ensure balance. The final package can often age for well over a decade. Under crown seal. The colour here is a deep garnet, while the wine is rich, complex, concentrated and gorgeously exuberant. Absolutely love it. Notes of cassis, cloves, dark chocolate, aniseed, mulberries, cranberries and coffee beans. A mouth-filling style yet the balance is impressive. The sweetness here seems more in the perception than the glass and they have managed to keep it well in check. This is a great sparkling red and will drink beautifully for at least the next 10 to 15 years. Drink now–2039
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The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus
South Australia 2024
75
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