The fruit for this wine is sourced from vines that are 60-plus years old from Ballandean in the Granite Belt. It sees extended time in French oak barrels. With that statement, it’s a bit of a distinction in this wine, lots of woody spices, sweet, nougat elements, touches of bourbon and ginger from that oak handling, and fruit is second bested by the rigour of barrel maturation, it seems. A potent, powerful red wine, concentrated mixed forest berries, black olive, pepper, mint and chocolate, but, geez, it would be wonderful to see the wine less adorned by the wood that seems to override fruit here. Reserve doesn’t need to be lavish oak, perhaps. Still, it should please many with its richness and potency.Description
This luscious sh
iraz was hand-picked from our 60+ year-old Ballandean vines. All these vines are on their own rootstock, with the Old Vine Shiraz from Barossa Shiraz cuttings bought across the border in around 1960 by Dick De Luca, after whom the ASWS Memorial Shield was named. These OLD VINE shiraz were used as the start cuttings for neighboring vineyards. This wine is a consistant HALLIDAY 95point wine.
The nose is bright and clean with hints of spice and raspberry, while the palate bursts with bright berries and a hit of white pepper. The use of French oak (18 months in oak puncheons) built structure and mouthfeel and compliments the delicious shiraz fruit characters. Approaching the international classification “Antiquity”. The oldes “OLD VINES” in QLD.
“Despite the 14.3% alcohol, this feels medium weight, satiny in texture and decidedly spicy. A lithe, finely wrought expression with dark cherry scents and flavours, a sprinkle of black pepper, brined green olive characters and a lavender floral lift. Quite tightly wound in the palate, savoury too, with fine, silty tannins and a core of crushed granite-like minerality. The finish, just a quibble, but a touch adjunct with lemony acidity lingering. All up, a very pleasing red.” HALLIDAY 2023 92POINTS:
“The fruit for this wine is sourced from vines that are 60-plus years old from Ballandean in the Granite Belt. It sees extended time in French oak barrels. With that statement, it’s a bit of a distinction in this wine, lots of woody spices, sweet, nougat elements, touches of bourbon and ginger from that oak handling, and fruit is second bested by the rigour of barrel maturation, it seems. A potent, powerful red wine, concentrated mixed forest berries, black olive, pepper, mint and chocolate, but, geez, it would be wonderful to see the wine less adorned by the wood that seems to override fruit here. Reserve doesn’t need to be lavish oak, perhaps. Still, it should please many with its richness and potency.” HALLIDAY 2023 92POINTS:
“Deep and dense ruby from core to rim. Aromas of mulberry compote, vanilla oil and cedar shavings fill the senses. Palate is rich and weighty with ripe purple berries, dark chocolate and sawdust savoury tones all melded will across a velveteen glide of tannins. Good length and depth to the finish. Will work best with a good dark protein and will offer cellaring rewards.” HUON HOOK, THE REAL REVIEW, 2024 92Pts
