Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert
'The finest vintage to date, better even than the stellar 2010, the 2015 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert is a gorgeous, deep, layered and incredibly satisfying Crozes. Blackcurrants, olive tapenade, truffles and earthy notes all emerge from this full-bodied, gorgeously textured and seamless 2015. With fine tannin and no hard edges, it can be drunk today or cellaring for 15-20 years.' Jeb Dunnuck
Two Hands Yacca Block Shiraz
Epic Negociants Northern Grounds Barossa Valley Shiraz
Krondorf 121 Settlers Shiraz
Krondorf 121 Settlers Barossa Valley Shiraz The 121 Settlers Old Vine Shiraz is sourced from a single site at the cooler southern extremity of Barossa, in St. Jakobi, abutting the western ridge of the Lyndoch sub-zone. Here, a conflation of red clay and loam promotes earlier ripening, a mitigating factor against inclement weather and the growing risk of early season frosts that Climate Change has foisted upon us. As importantly these dense soils imbue the wines with a firm tannic carriage, ensuring passage to greater complexity in the cellar, while serving as a structural harness for typically exuberant Barossan fruit. The average age of the vines is in excess of 35 years, with gnarled octogenarian survivors among them. Yields are inherently low as the established root systems reach deep below the soils substrata in search of water and the requisite nutrients drawn through it. Yet the fruit that is produced is immaculate: vibrant, concentrated and firmly stamped with the regional postcode of generosity. The winemaking is dutifully sensitive, chaperoning the fruit from vineyard to bottle with minimal intrusion: gravity feeds, gentle pigeage and 16-18 months in used, rather than new, oak. The result is one of dark fruit allusions from plum to blackberry, underlain by a potpourri of spice including black pepper, clove and star anise, all melded to a pungent thread of mineral. The oak is apparent, but only as an adjunct to propel the finish long. As with many Barossan greats, the fruit weight allows for early appeal, albeit, this is a wine that will easily cellar for 15 years onwards.
Bruno & George Drainings Shiraz
Bruno & George SVS Drainings Shiraz, Barossa Valley The brethren to the regular Shiraz bottling on one hand, yet this is the quintessential Barossan experience, at least from a more traditional perspective. Think beef stock, black fruit allusions, baby back ribs, vanilla pod oak and a sachet of Indian spice. from clove to turmeric. This complex potpourri melds with a long linger of bitter cocoa and cinnamon, derived from the longer period spent in newer oak. A powerful and indomitable tour de force. Built for a long haul in the cellar.
Torbreck Sporran TOR Vintners Shriaz
Dark red in colour. This wine has a complex nose of dark fruits, blueberry, herbs, spice & pepper. The palate is diverse and fine with dark plum & black fruits all to the fore in this rich & succulent wine that will age well into the future.
Krondorf 121 Settler Shiraz
By 1850, Krondorf village comprised 121 Settlers and their families. These 121 souls formed the beginning of a new community that shaped the future of the Barossa Valley. Their spirit is remembered through the rare, meticulously selected old vines, with the 2021 vintage hand crafted from a single vineyard in the Southern Barossa with an average vine age of 60 years. With a minimalist approach to winemaking, gentle pigeage is used to extract tannins then it’s matured in premium French oak barrels for a period of 18 months. This richly textured Shiraz gives lifted and concentrated aromatics of dark plum and blackberry fruit, with complex spicy oak notes from new and seasoned French oak hogsheads. The palate shows incredible depth and intensity, the oak giving balance to the strong core of dark fruit. Graphite, aniseed and chocolate round out the palate. Approachable in the short to mid-term, but also a strong candidate for long-term cellaring.
OR Henschke Tappa Pass Shiraz 750MLx6
This special Vineyard Selection from Henschke has aged into a rich, velvet-smooth treasure. Those intense, "lush" Barossa flavors have settled beautifully, trading their initial punch for a deep, concentrated sweetness that feels like pure luxury. It is now incredibly soft and approachable, offering a complex layer of dark fruit and spice that only comes with time. If you’re looking for a top-tier, "melt-in-your-mouth" Shiraz, this is at its absolute peak.