50 Year Old Vines Shiraz 2023

$90.00 / bottle

WINEMAKING

From select Shiraz vineyards planted over 50 years ago. The grapes are handpicked, destemmed but not crushed, and they spend seven days on their skins in open fermenters with hand-plunging twice daily to more gently extract colour, flavours and tannins. This is followed by careful basket pressing and malolactic fermentation in a combination of new and seasoned French oak before 18 months maturation in our cellars.

VINEYARD

The grapes for this wine come from an estate vineyard in the Vine Vale parish of the Barossa on deep sand over clay.

These low-yielding “Barossa Old Vines” were planted before 1965 and are now fully mature.

They have a root structure and trunk thickness that encourage diversity of flavour and character. Their worthiness has been proven over many vintages, consistently producing the highest quality fruit.

TASTING NOTES

Medium to deep crimson/purple. Powerfully intense aniseed, blackberry, mulberry and blueberry fruit aromas, with ginger, mint notes. Vigorous and fleshy with generous blueberry, blackberry flavours, excellent mid-palate richness and plentiful brambly chocolatey tannins.

Awards:
Grand Gold Medal – Berlin Wine Trophy 2026
95 Points – Andrew Caillard MW
95 Points – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
94 Points – Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
94 Points – Jeni Port, Wine Pilot
93 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review
93 Points – Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot

SUITABLE FOR VEGANS AND VEGETARIANS

Reviews Vintages

2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2012

Specifications

Maturation

18 Months French Oak (30% New)

Grape Variety

Shiraz

Closure

Cork

Winemaker

Jeremy Ottawa

Best Drinking

2026 - 2035

Alcohol

14.90%

Reviews

95 Points

Andrew Caillard MW

The grapes providing the fruit for this wine come from the Vine Vale sub-region, and were planted in 1965. After destemming, they spend a week on their skins before basket-pressing and then maturation in French oak, new and older, for a year and a half. Under cork. A deep purple hue, notes of spices, chocolate, bay leaves, coffee beans, black fruits, soy and truffles weave through the nose. The wine is generous and approachable and also has some toasty and vanillin notes from the
oak integration. There is excellent length here, the wine is bright and energetic, and
concludes with fine, firm tannins. A 15-year proposition. Drink now–2040

95 Points

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

This is immediately appealing on the nose with aromas of dark berry, star anise, liquorice, and cedar. The palate delivers a plump mouthfeel and fleshy texture, splendidly supported by polished tannins, finishing persistent and delectably appealing. At its best: now to 2040.

94 Points

Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

The vineyards, situated in the Vine Vale sub-region of the Barossa, which provided the grapes for this delicious old vine Shiraz were all planted prior to 1965. Maturation was in a mix of new and older French oak for a year and a half.
There is very much an earthiness to this wine – just the sort of thing which some love and others may be a touch more reticent about. Put it with your finest steak and I doubt there’ll be many complaints. The wine is opaque maroon in colour, while the nose reveals notes of mushrooms, animal skins, blackberries, bay leaves, black cherries and coffee grinds. There is good length and intensity throughout and the palate sees the emergence of chocolate notes. Earthy tannins are evident on the finish. A wine for enjoying over the next fifteen years.

93 Points

Huon Hooke, The Real Review

Deep garnet colour; rich chocolate, blood plum and Christmas cake aromas, the palate full bodied and rich with density and fleshy extract, the tannins supple and ample, hints of toffee and caramel, but earthy/terracotta, fruitcake and dark plum/licorice favours predominate. Very smart wine in the fuller bodied, warm-grown style. 2026-2038

93 Points

Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot

Impeccably balanced and poised, old vine shiraz from the Barossa. This wine really does show what this region can do when the fruit is treated so sympathetically. Spicy, plummy, dark chocolate and mocha characters, but it's that juicy lift of raspberry through the middle that really brings it to life. Elegant and quite stylish with excellent length. Cellar: 15 Years