JACOB’S CREEK JOHANN BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ 2012
96 POINTS // $120
Johann has changed recipe in recent years, and 2012 is more than 80% Shiraz, sourced predominantly from the 90-year-old vines of the Willandra vineyard in Rowland Flat. This site is also the core of Centenary Hill, but the wines are profoundly distinct, and even a small injection of Cabernet here lifts its aromatic profile, heightens its tannin structure, brightens its acidity, elongates the finish and infuses grand longevity. Tangy berry fruit are underlined by dark chocolate and fine-grained, enduring tannins. Patience.
JACOB’S CREEK CENTENARY HILL BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ 2012
96 POINTS // $82
Centenary Hill is the personification of old vine southern Barossa Shiraz and the personality and sheer, distinguished integrity captured in this bottle herald one of the greatest Centenary Hills to date. Old vines bring a depth of exotic spice and a silky tannin texture all of their own, here laid out impeccably amidst the depth of satsuma plum and liquorice fruit, framed masterfully in dark chocolate oak. Length, line and mineral structure are a sheer joy.
JACOB’S CREEK STEINGARTEN BAROSSA RIESLING 2015
95 POINTS // $50
Two-and-a-half years off the vines, the colour is ultra-pale, with its age is hinted in notes of almond and toast. The tension of lemon and lime are still electric, charged with a razor line of Eden Valley acidity. It’s got every detail in place to go the distance, and just begs for time.
JACOB’S CREEK BAROSSA SIGNATURE RIESLING 2017
94 POINTS // $20
An Eden Valley Riesling through and through, though you need to look to the back label to ascertain this. There is no mistaking it in the glass, a beautifully refined wine of gorgeous lily and lemon blossom, lime fruit and a lovely touch of pink lady apple to keep things engaging and approachable. This is the wine to drink while St Hugo and Steingarten Rieslings rest.
ST HALLETT OLD BLOCK SHIRAZ 2014
96 POINTS // $110
With the largest inclusion of Eden Valley ever (more than one-third), there is a bright, youthful integrity here that completely belies its age. This is an Old Block of seamless elegance, lifted rose petal fragrance, red-fruited structure and a coherence that beautifully interlocks finely structured tannins and understated oak. A stand out for the season, this is a wine of great integrity and enduring line and length.
ST HALLETT BLACKWELL SHIRAZ 2015
95 POINTS // $45
A great vintage for Blackwell, contrasting bright black cherry and satsuma plum fruit with finely structured tannins and bright acidity. Nuances of black olives and dark chocolate leave the centre stage for refined black fruit focus. It finishes with great line and length.
ST HALLETT DAWKINS SINGLE VINEYARDS EDEN VALLEY SHIRAZ 2016
94 POINTS // $55
A characterful nose of sage and menthol over a core of extroverted dark berry fruits articulates the personality of St Hallett’s easternmost vineyard. It’s a tangy style that showcases the brightness of Eden Valley acidity, backed by finely structured tannins. A wine of focus, poise and character, it’s bright and exotic yet refined and focused. A natural and unforced style in which place speaks loud and clear.
ST HUGO VETUS PURUM BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2010
96 POINTS // $240
The historic Willandra vineyard on the banks of Jacob’s Creek infuses hints of peat, horseradish and smoke, which add layers of complexity to plush and rich old vine fruit. It’s wrapped gently in beautifully refined old vine tannins and nuances of mixed spice, Christmas cake and prunes. Structurally, it’s silky, supple and effortless, with great persistence and confidence, enticing now, though promising great potential.
ST HUGO EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2017
95 POINTS // $40
If the goal of the Jacob’s Creek Riesling wizards was to create a stir with the first release of this brand new, limited production label, they have certainly exceeded their aspiration. A gorgeously fragrant, signature Eden Valley Riesling that harks back to the heyday of Jacob’s Creek Riesling. Lifted lily and lemon blossom aromas of gracious finesse herald a tightly structured palate of brilliant granny smith apple, lemon and lime fruit, supported by enduring acid line & finely structured mineral texture that hovers long on the finish. Benchmark.
HENSCHKE MOUNT EDELSTONE EDEN VALLEY SHIRAZ 2013
97 POINTS // $225
The 61st vintage from these 101 year old vines is infused with an understated restraint and unashamed medium-bodied confidence that fans out from an impeccably compact singularity into a gloriously long finish. A magnificent core of old vine spice, white pepper, satsuma plum skins and fresh liquorice is built around a framework of sensational mineral tannin texture. One of the greatest Mount Edelstones in the century-long history of this revered site, and it will go down among the longest-lived.
JACOBS CREEK STEINGARTEN RIESLING 2017
96 POINTS // $50
From a single vineyard in Flaxman’s Valley, this is a magnificent Steingarten of pristine pale straw green luminosity. An electric palate of cool, long season acidity supports pitch-perfect lemon, granny smith apple and lime fruit of outstanding poise and persistence, underlined by a magnificent talcy mouth feel of delightful slatey mineral texture. Length, line and precision define one of the greatest and longest-lived Steingartens.
TURKEY FLAT THE ANCESTOR 2015
96 POINTS // $200
Turkey Flat’s flagship taps deeply into the character of its 100+ year old vines, a wine build for the long-haul in the lineage of the likes of Hill of Grace and Stonewell. Flinty, smoky and complex, it presents a wonderful contrast between depth of old vine plum and blackberry fruit and spice and the tannin tension of a great vintage. The result is a delightfully structured Barossa Shiraz of profound line and length.
BETHANY GR15 RESERVE SHIRAZ 2016
95 POINTS // $110
Sourced from two dry-grown blocks of 60 year old vines on Bethany Creek, this is a flagship Shiraz of deep blackcurrant and black cherry fruits, supported by dark chocolate oak and framed in a medium-bodied style . Tannins are fine-grained and confident. It will appreciate further time for oak and fruit to continue to marry.
HENSCHKE JULIUS EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2017
95 POINTS // $45
There is delicacy and precision to this vintage and an elegant integrity that takes Julius to another level. Picked at precisely the right moment of exact ripeness, lime, lemon and granny smith apple abound, accented with the perfume of pink lady apples. Acidity is consummately confident yet ripe and balanced. Slatey mineral texture lingers on an exceedingly long finish.
ROCKFORD BLACK SHIRAZ NV
95 POINTS // $67
There is a freshness and vitality in this disgorgement that I’ve not seen before in the iconic Rockford Black Shiraz, with a crunchy, vibrant primary fruit edge. It upholds all the multifaceted complexity that its vast depth of maturity predicts, with all the personality of old vine fruit ricocheting in black plum, black cherry, liquorice, even a hint of sarsaparilla, and the ever present, long-lingering delight of high cocoa dark chocolate. It’s magnificently finished with perfectly integrated dosage and firm, fine yet somehow creamy tannins that will sustain it for a good while yet. The finest Black Shiraz yet.
TURKEY FLAT VINEYARDS GRENACHE 2016
95 POINTS // $30
It’s not hard to see why this was the first Grenache to win the Jimmy Watson Trophy. It’s delightfully aromatic, alive with rose petal, musk, red liquorice and spice. The palate is a flattering and seamless accord between fine, mineral tannins, bright acidity, refined raspberry fruit and just the right herbal complexity from judicious whole bunch inclusion (20%). It shows a refinement that belies 15% alcohol and concludes delightfully textured.
HENSCHKE TAPPA PASS SHIRAZ 2015
94 POINTS // $115
An intensely characterful and liquorice-infused Shiraz that articulates the spice and complexity of the Eden Valley and eastern Barossa Valley. Luscious blueberry and blackberry fruit with mixed spice and white pepper are toned with a refined and tightly structured tannin chassis that carries a very long finish. An impressive vintage for Tappa Pass that captures the personality of its two vineyards with great expression.
TOBRECK RUNRIG 2015
94 POINTS // $275
Ian Hongell’s first opportunity to blend RunRig proved to be an intense, two week long exercise. The outcome is a Barossa Shiraz of deep complexity of game, spice, layers of liquorice and black olives, with a core of black plum and black cherry fruit. Already approachable, it’s seamless, soft, rounded and supple.
TORBRECK HILLSIDE GRENACHE 2016
94 POINTS // $75
Winemaker Ian Hongell has taken Torbreck Grenache to another level of seriousness. Deep blackberry and black plum fruit express impressive depth for this variety, supported by impressive, fine, mineral tannin structure and culminating in a finish of very good length and line. This is senior Barossa Grenache charged with potential to age.
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