Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley
Vintage: 2022
Variety: Shiraz & Shiraz Blends
Alcohol volume: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap

Appearance
Deep crimson with ruby hues.

Aroma
Intensely perfumed aromas of raspberry, blackberry, black plum, violets and almond blossom, with nuances of bay leaf, vanilla pod, black pepper and dried herbs.

Palate
The palate leads with dark forest fruits, supported by baking spice, sage and Dutch cocoa, balanced by fine-grained tannins and refreshing acidity for a long, lingering finish.

Vintage notes
Above average 2021 winter rainfall helped to refill soil profiles and the cool, slow start to the growing season resulted in budburst occurring slightly later than average. A frost event occurred on 11 October, followed by an extreme hail event on 28 October, and the cold and wet weather in mid-November coincided with flowering, which impacted fruit-set and potential yields. December and January provided a burst of summer heat, however at the beginning of vintage another severe weather event dealt a deluge of rain and even more hail to some parts of the region. While mild and dry conditions followed, the cumulative impacts of the season's weather events resulted in lower yields across the region. The 2022 wines show great aromatics, balance of acidity and a bright core of flavour.

Maturation
Matured in 20% new French oak hogsheads, and 80% seasoned French and American oak hogsheads for 20 months prior to blending and bottling.

James Suckling
96 Points
Deeply perfumed and spicy, with aromas of blackcurrants, roasted coffee beans, cedar, blood plums, cured meat and cassis. The palate is seamlessly integrated, with a velvety texture, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity that leads into a supple yet structured finish with lingering flavors of bitter chocolate, mulberries, cigar box and paprika. Made from a blend of 59% shiraz, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc and 2% merlot. So much polish and class. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Ray Jordan
95 Points
A blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. This is right up there with any previous releases under this label. The oak has been well chosen to suit the fruit. It’s 20% new French and an 80% mix of seasoned French and American oak. Bright, plummy, raspberry-like fruit with a little blackberry complexity on the nose. The palate is medium bodied and elegantly structured, displaying a vibrant fruit energy and purity supported by fine chalky tannins. Impressive wine from an excellent vintage.

Ken Gargett
96 Points
A veritable fruit salad of classic red varieties here with Shiraz dominant (59%), supported by Cabernet Sauvignon (33%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Merlot (2%). The fruit comes from the Barossa Valley (40%) and Eden Valley (60%). Maturation was for twenty months in a combination of French and American hogsheads, with 20% of the French oak new. A vibrant dark maroon hue, the nose exhibits notes of coffee beans, mocha, kirsch, tobacco leaves, bergamot, cassis, cold tea and licorice. This is elegant and yet with intensity. Exciting stuff. Balanced, focused, fresh and energetic, there are silky tannins and momentous length. This will drink beautifully for at least fifteen years. As good a Euphonium as I can recall.

Huon Hooke
95 Points
(Re-tasted) Good depth of ruby to garnet colour, showing some development appropriate to its age. The bouquet presents vanilla, chocolate, raspberry and sundry dried herbs, sweeter and increasingly cassisy as it aired. The palate is medium-full bodied and supple in its texture, with a fruit-sweet middle which smacks of crushed raspberries, then a supple tannin finish. Delicious—and it's a wine that responds well to generous airing. (A blend of shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc & merlot)