The 20th release of Blackwell is a wine that expresses exceptional definition of flavour and structure, driven by pure and precise black plum and black cherry fruit, framed in a confidently scaffolded structure of prominent, firm, velvety tannins. Excellent acid tone reinforces its medium-bodied demeanour and compounds its considerable longevity. This is a Blackwell for […]

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An inky and concentrated expression of Eden Valley shiraz, capturing voluptuous blackberry, black cherry and liquorice fruit, masterfully framed by winemaker Kym Teusner in dark chocolate oak. Sinewy, confident tannins provide a finely structured framework, supported by well-poised Eden Valley acidity, promising excellent potential in the cellar. 2013 vintage to be released shortly.

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Built on a backbone of those glorious 1847 planted vines on Bethany Road, 2013 represents an impressively composed and focused Turkey Flat, poised for a long future. Blackberry and plum fruits meet the depth of liquorice and coal steam, in a style of compact concentration and tightly honed, textured, refined tannins. $40 at WineStar.

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I’ve been buying and cellaring Centenary Hill since the mid-‘90s and I can’t recall a more impressive vintage on release. This is a focused and coiled Barossa Valley shiraz of layers of black fruits, liquorice, dark chocolate and spice. Poise and definition meet impressively deep-set concentration, underscored by a focused line of fine-grained tannins, culminating […]

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St Jakobi is magnificent in 2013, and such is the calibre of this season that this label is closer to Oscar than ever. But in time Oscar declares its greatness as one of the grand crus of the Barossa. It’s magnificently seamless, making a grand statement in its undeviating line and tremendous persistence. Back-to-back with […]

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I have long admired Frux Frugis, and 2012 will go down among the very finest, parading a core of polished black fruits nothing short of downright fantastic. It’s a gorgeous expression of old vine McLaren Vale shiraz in succulent black cherry, blackberry and satsuma plum fruit with hints of liquorice and anise. 24 months in […]

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In these days of instant gratification we are at times guilty of underestimating the great, long-ageing cellaring specials on release. We excuse top Bordeaux, Burgundy and Barolo and we celebrate their most enduring vintages. The Barossa deserves the same respect, and Old Block won’t show its full colours for at least a decade. It’s still […]

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The evolution of refinement at Craggy Range over the past decade has been something to behold, with vine age permitting harvest at lower sugar ripeness and more sensitive use of oak as a textural element rather than a flavour component. The estate attained a wonderful crescendo in the “cracker” 2013 vintage, and Le Sol is […]

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