2023 Sami-Odi Shiraz Hoffmann Dallwitz

The 2023 Hoffmann Dallwitz represents the 18th vintage of this wine, and the proportion of older vines versus the younger vines was far outweighed by the former in this year. Here, there were three picks of Hoffmann Dallwitz Old Block fruit, two picks of the 1927 vines in the Hoffmann Dallwitz vineyard and a barrel of the 2022 Hoffmann Dallwitz in the blend as well. This is an altogether darker, more concentrated wine than either the Little Wine #14 or the Our Hill (OH) in this same release. That darkness (without cumbersome weight or overlarge size) sits well within the shape of the wine. That dark fruit note and the tannins that encase it are graphite and gravel, clove and star anise, as well. This is super. It is finer than the 2022 release (which I really loved). 14.4% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax.