Old Vine Shiraz 2023

This is the other wine in the new range of Old Vines and what a cracker it is. After gentle basket pressing, this wine went to American oak barrels for a year and a half. It has given the final wine a sleek, plush and generous nature which works wonderfully well. A deep red hue, there is real concentration here. We have notes of raspberries, truffles, plums, black fruits, leather and cocoa powder. A wine of power, focus and concentration, this really needs a few years in the cellar before opening (not that you won’t enjoy it earlier if patience is not your thing). After that, it will drink beautifully for the following ten to twelve years. A very long finish with fine, silky tannins, the palate sees the emergence of notes of soy and beef stock. Terrific stuff and in comparison, with some prestige releases from the region, brilliant value.

These old Barossa vines produce such beautiful fruit. In this case the fruit was open fermented before basket pressing and then ageing for 18 months in American oak, which seems to suit the style in this case. The ripe and generous dark berry fruits are complemented by a spicy vanillin combination. Loads of fruit power here but it’s delivered with polish and poise.