Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Vintage: 2022
Variety: Shiraz & Shiraz Blends
Alcohol volume: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap

Palate
Dark savoury fruits and fine, structured tannins.

Region notes
In the 2022 vintage, the base Shiraz comes from a vineyard planted circa 1965, in the Flaxman Valley at 480m altitude. The vineyard has a perfect easterly aspect and gradient to catch the morning sun and is shaded from the late heat of the day. The soils are lean, with clays, mixed ironstone and some scattered quartz.

Winemakers comments
Head Wines now works with a diverse range of up to 20 different Shiraz vineyards in the Barossa and Eden Valleys. To be considered part of ‘The Brunette’ a vineyard must perform amongst the few top vineyards each year and represent the ‘dark-side’ of Shiraz in the Barossa. In the vineyard we give every opportunity for the fruit to provide us with the tannins and concentration to make a structured and long-lived traditional Barossa Shiraz.

David Sly
96 Points
Dark, sooty aromas with sparks of flint and torched blackberry suggests something feisty – and indeed, this is a beguiling black-fruited beauty that has grip, brawny muscle and a hint of menace, yet a warm red heart beats at its core. This is gnarly old-vine fruit presented in a lively, modern manner that demands close attention, its carefully constructed tannin profile ensuring captivating drinking now and long into the future.

Huon Hooke
94 Points
Deep red with a good tint of purple and a floral/herbal/peppery almost bunchy kind of bouquet, traces of cloves and humus. The tannins are quite emphatic and coat the mouth, while the length is impressive and concludes with some alcohol warmth to match its decadent richness. Impressive shiraz.

James Suckling
94 Points
A driven, focused and solid shiraz with dark berries, chocolate wafers, roasted meat and roasted peppercorns on the nose. Full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. A velvety texture packed with generous berry character. Loads of spices and dark chocolate lead to a rather intense and generous palate. Appealing kick of peppercorns in the long, driven finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.