2020 Shiraz Old Vine
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Tasting notes
Aged 16 months in French oak puncheons. Smoky nose that adds a lovely, atmospheric autumnal complexity. Tarry palate as well, with rich, complex, spicy, smoky persistence. Superb – captures the flavours that go beyond varietal Shiraz. (RH)
Critic scores
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Three blocks: Old Vine Block (1961), Barringtons Old Block (1965), Matthews Old Block (1961). Soils are sandy loam over clay, farmed regeneratively. Ungrafted vines and yields at 2 t/ha. 100% destemmed, 7 days on skins in a stainless-steel static fermenter. Aged for 16 months in French oak puncheons, 30% new, 70% one and two years old. Unfiltered but racked and returned twice throughout the maturation period. Deepest crimson. Ripe, dark-fruited and oaky. Really oaky. Too much. At least the oak has smoothed the tannins. It may age longer than this but I think the oak will always dominate. (JH)