Australia

Yalumba

Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz Barossa

South Australia

Barossa

Waves of charred sandalwood, white pepper, sage, liqourice root, juicy black fruits and balanced acidities giving plenty of freshness and a slow burn finish. You can already see just how slowly this wine ages, as even at 5 years old it is still very much in its primary phase, with muscular tannins that are confidently keeping everything in line. The fruit sourcing also reflects the drive towards fresher expression in what was a warm vintage, with 69% Eden Valley and 31% Barossa. Expertly navigated, picked a little earlier than many in the region. First vintage on the Place for this wonderful Shiraz. Ageing in 25% Yalumba coopered American octaves, 25% new French hogsheads, 6% Hungarian hogsheads. Winemaker Kevin Glastonbury, harvest February 15 to April 10.

Inside Bordeaux

The 2018 The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz comes 69% from the Eden Valley and 31% from the Barossa Valley, with the vines more than 100 years old on average. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with exuberant notes of black cherries, warm plums, and fruitcake with hints of licorice, lilacs, peppered salami, and tar. The full-bodied palate offers fantastic freshness and vibrancy, with a racy backbone and velvety tannins, finishing very long and very spicy.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Fascinating having this alongside the 2009. The tannins here are still silky, but younger and more muscular at five years old, with the fruit clearly sweeter and more dense. Think raspberry and blackberry pastille, still with the through-line of balsamic and liquorice, and here a slab of black chocolate, rosemary and olive pit, with a tar and campfire smoke twist on the finish. Delicious now, but will reward ageing and then some. Harvest February 22 to March 15. Average age of the vines at this point is 104 years, with 55% Eden Valey and 45% Barossa (significantly higher Eden sourcing than was the case a decade earlier). 25% new French oak.

To celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Hill-Smith family at Yalumba, they are releasing an extremely limited number of the 2009 from their 'museum collection'. The silky smooth tannins, and the balsamic, liquorice and eucalyptus edge set this wonderful Shiraz apart. Clarity of black fruit expression clear even at 15 years old, with charred sandalwood, cracked pepper and vanilla bean adding nuance. It won't be easy to get hold of this one, but if you do, you are in for a treat. Harvest 24 February to 6 April, first released January 2005. Aged in French and American oak barrels, 39% new, and a touch of Hungarian oak also. Old vine Shiraz, with a key section ungrafted from 1920, from Barossa and Eden Valley. Winemaker Kevin Glastonbury.

2019	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2018	No priceNot available	Extraordinary
2009	No priceNot available	Extraordinary

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Yalumba
Vintages	2018
Country	Australia, South Australia, Barossa
Bottle	75 cl

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