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Barossa

Australia’s oldest, most famous and internationally renowned wine growing region located a short distance from Adelaide, South Australia, the Barossa Valley contains the sub district of the Eden Valley, and is home to some of Australia’s, and the world’s oldest Shiraz vines. The Barossa Valley’s viticultural history extends back to the early 1800’s when English and Prussian immigrants founded vineyards, enterprises and wineries still family owned to this day. The British gentry was led by George Fife Angas (Angaston), Joseph Gilbert (Pewsey Vale), Samuel Smith (Founder of Yalumba in 1847) and William Salter (Saltram 1859). On the other hand a significantly more numerous population of Lutheran’s migrated fleeing the reformation in Prussia, pioneering viticulture and agriculture, numbering among them were names synonymous with the most established wineries in Australia including Johann Gramp (1847), Joseph Seppelt (Seppelt, 1851) and William Jacob (1854). Many of these original families continue in the wine business and own vineyards. The growers of the Barossa have weathered two world wars, drought, flood, bushfire, erratic swings in market preferences from red wine to white (1970’s), the Vine Pull Scheme of the 1980s whereby 130 year old, priceless, low yielding vines were removed due to lack of demand, to emerge stronger than ever, the one constant it’s ancient weathered vineyards and stoic population.

Principally a red wine growing region, historically the varieties planted were Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro (Mourvedre) alongside Pedro Ximenez and Frontignac for the production of fortified wine. The climate is warm and dry, with cool nights and warm to hot days. The Barossa Valley contains a complex typography of valleys, hills slopes and soils. The soils vary widely though the dominate composition is a clay loam and in areas low fertility sandy soils. Although red grapes are more pervasively planted, there are small quantities of white varieties including Semillon, which is often unwooded, with bright lemon zest notes and moderate acidity. Barossa Chardonnay tends to be richer and more generous with Melon and ripe peach notes and is quick to develop and best consumed young. Riesling which are also of a more broad and generous style, though many Barossa based wineries produce more zesty examples from Clare Valley and Eden Valley fruit. Small quantities of Viognier are cultivated, used primarily for blending with Shiraz, though some outstanding mono varietal bottling’s are available, Yalumba Virgilius in particular.

Of the Red varieties Shiraz is king with considerably more planted than Grenache or Mourvedre. Significantly, many of these vines are older than Shiraz or Syrah vines planted in Europe, the Barossa being fortunate enough not to encounter the devastations of phylloxera. Typically Barossa Shiraz is full bodied, lush with notes of blackberry, plum, medium acidity and high, but soft ripe tannins. They are traditionally aged in new oak imparting flavours of graphite and cigar box (new French oak) and coconut and vanilla (new American oak), the wines are renowned for their depth and longevity. The shift in the mid-1990s towards producing blockbuster wines that were high in alcohol fuelled by high Parker scores that then pushed the prices of the wines in America and Asia to new levels encouraged some winemakers to follow suit. The pendulum has now begun to swing in the other direction, led by a new generation of producers committed to making elegant, full to medium bodied Barossa red articulating individual vineyard character.

Many of Australia’s most famous wines are made in the Barossa and some of the most recognised producers include Penfolds, Peter Lehman, Yalumba, Wolf Blass and Henschke. The quintet of Penfolds Grange (mainly old vine Barossa shiraz aged in new American oak), Penfolds RWT Shiraz , Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz (100% single vineyard), Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon and Penfolds St Henri Shiraz) are all highly sought after wines. And Henschke’s iconic single vineyard ancient vine Hill of Grace is considered by many to be the equal of Penfolds Grange in terms of both quality and as wine investment. A recent resurgence has seen many smaller artisanal wineries producing outstanding wines on small scale, including Spinifex, Teusner, Ruggabellus, Standish, Kalleske and Head Wines to name a few.

Less pervasively planted are Grenache, Mourvedre and Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon prefers a slightly cooler climate and tends to be better in cooler years and the use of French Oak is more common than American. Grenache and Mourvedre are often blended with Shiraz in a traditional Rhone Blend, though also bottles as mono varietal wines. Grenache from the Barossa tends toward sweet fruits, raspberry, with hints of spice and soft tannins. Outstanding producers include Spinifex, Kalleske, Charles Melton and Rusden.

Sources:
The Oxford Companion to Wine, (ed) Jancis Robinson
James Halliday's Wine Atlas of Australia, James Halliday
Australia & New Zealand Complete Book of Wine, Compiled by Len Evans
 


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  1. Paisley Wines Boombox Shiraz 2021
    Paisley Wines Boombox Shiraz 2021

    If you’re old enough, you’d remember making mix tapes to give to friends or slip into the cassette player in your car, or whatever. My tape of choice, if I was feeling flush was a TDK SA-X (chrome), or even an MA-X (metal setting), and if poor, maybe a TDK AD or a lowly D.  All very nice. But thank heavens for Spotify.

    A big juicy dark hit of flavour here, along with raspberry juice, mint, a bit of earthy coal-like stuff, some chewy chalk-like grip, and a warm and generous finish of good length. Doesn’t seem to have much oak influence, just a riot of bouncy earthy Barossa fruit. Good fun. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

    2020
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  2. Tomfoolery Young Blood Shiraz 2023
    Tomfoolery Young Blood Shiraz 2023

    Inspired by the new wave ‘Vino Joven’ wines of the old world, Young Blood Shiraz is released as a cheeky youngster with just a brief barrel maturation to showcase  structure and varietal character, while retaining freshness and finesse. The fruit is open fermented utilising native yeasts, with 30% whole bunch in the mix. After 7 days maceration post-ferment, the wine is gently basket pressed and racked to stainless vats (50%) and old French oak hogsheads (50%) for 6 months maturation. Young Blood Shiraz is pure, uncomplicated enjoyment.

    Deep ruby colour with the vibrant pink rim of a fresh young wine. Spicy bramble and black cherry nose with fresh raspberry top notes. Soft damson plum palate with red berry fruit flavours, bright and juicy on a medium bodied elegant palate. Fine tannins and refreshing balancing acidity finish off this easy drinking wine. TOMFOOLERY

    2022
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
    Special Price $26.00 Regular Price $31.00
  3. Teusner The Wark Family Shiraz 2022
    Teusner The Wark Family Shiraz 2022
    Shiraz from the 1995-planted Wark family vineyard in Stone Well. Deep magenta in the glass with characters of ripe blood plum and blackberry fruit with plenty of compact spicy, licorice and dark chocolate notes. Like last year's release there is a sense of 'compression' that I often see with the wines of this subregion, tight sandy tannin with super-ripe dark plum and spice notes on the finish. DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companinon
    2021
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  4. Spinifex Papillon 2022
    Spinifex Papillon 2022
    I'm a huge fan of Peter Schell's Papillon, this year a blend of 87/13% cinsault/grenache. It's fragrant and pretty with a spaciousness and sense of detail that predates the majority of the wines that today present in a pleasant vin de soif style. Red fruited and spicy with notes of dried meats and citrus blossom, dried herbs and cranberry. An oh-so-easy-to-drink style with chalky tannins and red apple-like acidity. It's a ripper. DAVE BROOKES, winecompanion.com
    2022
    Carignan, Grenache, shiraz
    Australia
    349
  5. Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2022
    Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2022
    Magenta-edged crimson with oodles of unctuous macerated plum, blueberry, dark cherry and boysenberry fruits. Hints of baking spices, olive tapenade, dark chocolate, roasting meats, panforte and turned earth. Full bodied yet fresh in the mouth with sleek fruit, bright acidity and gentle pillowy tannins; fades slowly from view with ripe plummy fruit and an array of spice. DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion
    2022
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  6. Torbreck Hillside Shiraz Roussanne 2022
    Torbreck Hillside Shiraz Roussanne 2022

    A blend of 95% shiraz and 5% roussanne from the Hillside vineyard in the southern subregion of Lyndoch. Blueberry and Doris plum fruits flecked with jasmine, roasting meats, cardamom, citrus blossom, bay leaf, licorice, vanilla bean and wood spice. There's a pure fruit flow and fine, toothsome tannins, a seam of fresh acidity and a touch of cured meats right on the way out. Good drinking. DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion

    The Hillside vineyard was established near the town of Lyndoch in the south western corner of the Barossa Valley in 1849 by the Springbett family with vines were planted in 1850 to Shiraz and Grenache. Torbreck acquired the property in 2002 and set about resurrecting the old vines, planting new vineyards and restoring the charming historic ironstone buildings.

    Due to the success in co-fermenting Shiraz and Viognier, they thought it would be interesting to co-ferment the skins from Roussanne with Shiraz. Once the juice was gently whole bunch pressed from the Roussanne grapes, the skins were added to the Shiraz and co-fermented. The result is striking stuff and absolutely delicious.

    2022
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  7. Spinifex Grenache Gris 2023
    Spinifex Grenache Gris 2023

    It’s a new plot of vineyard (on the estate) and this is the first year where there was enough crop to make/release a wine. It was fermented wild in old oak and then matured in a (not new) 1000l foudre.

    Time in old oak was important here because it’s added texture to what is, at heart, a structural white wine. It’s a wine of skin and bones, stones and spices, its dryness a key part of its appeal. We’re almost into brine territory here, or stones sitting in a saline solution, perhaps. It knows what it wants, and it wants for food. This is a good, interesting wine, worth buying and drinking, and future releases will be worth following. CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front

    2021
    Carignan, Grenache, shiraz
    Australia
    349
  8. Spinifex Bete Noir 2021
    Spinifex Bete Noir 2021
    It’s flush with fruit but there’s a meatiness to this and its churned with tannin too, grainy tannin. Charred meats, blackberries and blueberries, a floral element and fist loads of roasted spice. It’s bold but neat, tannic but not at the expense of the overall flow. Excellent gear, this. (94) CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front

    Deep, bold purple-red colour; aromas of sweet ripe black fruits, blackberry and mulberry, vanilla/chocolate too, the palate full bodied and fruit-sweet at the core, then some astringency comes in thanks to acidity and tannin—but it's all in balance. Plenty happening here. A promising shiraz that will reward patient cellaring. (95) HUON HOOKE, The Real Review

    Pete Schell's Bête Noir is a shiraz blended across a selection of Barossan grounds including a portion from the cooler Eden Valley. Typically sporting a super-saturated, magenta-splashed hue with aromas of bright plum, black cherry and blueberry fruits cut with hints of violets, brown spice, ironstone, dark chocolate, smoked meats, cherry confit and earth. Glossy and impressively pure, there's ferrous edge to the tight tannins and an acid line that propels the pure fruit briskly across the palate, finishing elegant yet opulent. (95) DAVE BROOKS, winecompanion.com.au
    2020
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  9. Alkina Night Sky GSM 2023
    Alkina Night Sky GSM 2023
    A biodynamically farmed and raised red blend from from the wonderful Alkina estate in Greenock. Bruised crimson with aromas of macerated blood plum, boysenberry and blueberry, hints of delicate spice, drying amaro herbs, pressed citrus blossom, dried meats, rosehip, gingerbread, dried citrus rind and earth. Supple and lithe, it cuts a harmonious passage across the palate. Earthy, with fine tannin chew and a graceful, savoury exit. DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion
    2023
    Mourvedre, shiraz
    Australia
    349
  10. Izway Maurice Grenache 2022
    Izway Maurice Grenache 2022

    Introducing Maurice……the brother of Bruce. While Grenache sits quietly alongside its less famous counterpart Shiraz, we hope it’s not too long before this unheralded legend of the Barossa Valley is recognised.

    Finally, Maurice is back (briefly)! After three years of frost, wind and hail, the Maurice Grenache has returned, and we love being able to share the new release with you.

    This release showcases this perfectly, with gorgeous aromatics, freshness and energy, a certain lightness, yet enough intensity of flavour and subtle tannin structure for you to realise you are actually drinking Grenache. IZWAY

    2017
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  11. Quin Wines Barossa Valley Shiraz 2020
    Quin Wines Barossa Valley Shiraz 2020
    Shiraz sourced from the 450m elevation, 1982-planted Hampton vineyard on Menglers Hill; destemmed, 10 days on skins and 18 months in older, seasoned French oak. Satsuma plum, blueberry and boysenberry fruit tones are joined by hints of fine spice, sage, violets, softly spoken vanillin oak and earth. The fruit darkens on the palate, tensing before fanning out on the finish with a cascade of dusty, granitic tannin and plenty of Eden Valley drive. Lovely. (95) DAVE BROOKES, James Halliday
    2020
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  12. Torbreck Hillside Vineyard Grenache 2019
    Torbreck Hillside Vineyard Grenache 2019
    A lot of Torbreck's fruit focuses on the west and north of the Barossa, but the Hillside vineyard is down the south end of the valley near the township of Lyndoch. There is a bit more space to this southern grenache, a sense of light and perhaps the volume on the floral top notes has been turned up a notch. The tannin profile is different, too, and sports a fine, sandy, kinetic feel on the palate finishing with oodles of spice and gentle red plum and raspberry fruits with a real sense of savoury intrigue as the wine fades slowly away. DAVE BROOKES, James Halliday
    2020
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  13. Michael Hall Flaxman's Eden Valley Syrah 2021
    Michael Hall Flaxman's Eden Valley Syrah 2021
    Winemaker Michael Hall turns his attention to the Eden Valley, specifically the Naimanya vineyard in the High Eden on the fringe of Flaxman Valley; 30% whole bunches, matured in French oak (10% new) for 20 months. There's a cooler aromatic edge here, blackberry and black cherry pastille vibes with hints of sage, kirsch, brandied fruits, clove-studded glazed ham, liqueur choccies, light tobacco and earth. Solid and broody with some Eden Valley mineral light shining in. DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion
    2019
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  14. Two Hands  Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2021 1500ml
    Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2021 1500ml
    3 BOTTLES AVAIALABLE

    The name here pays homage to gnarled bush vines of the Barossa, famous across the globe. Deep saturated red-purple hue, there is a distinct ginger-spice aspect to the plush black plum and black cherry fruit on display here. There is an array of spice too, with hints of dark chocolate and a plume of mulberry lift. Great fruit concentration, fine ripe tannin and a tight acid line drives things along nicely. DAVE BROOKS, The Wine Companion
    2021
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
    Special Price $63.00 Regular Price $70.00
  15. Teusner Big Jim Shiraz 2021
    Teusner Big Jim Shiraz 2021

    Shiraz sourced from the Wark Family vineyard, aged in 50/50% seasoned and new French oak and featuring a lovely label featuring 'Big Jim' by local Barossa artist Marnie Wark. Deep crimson and packed with plump, ripe satsuma plum and macerated summer berry fruits. Hints of baking spices, dark chocolate, earth, chocolate bullets, violets, olive tapenade, softly spoken cedar tones and vanilla. Plush and pure with bright acid drive and a fan of spicy dark and black berry fruits on the exit. (95) DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion

    It’s now packaged in a Burgundy bottle and while the front label is more or less the same, it’s been tweaked. Anyway, you get the gist.

    Wow this is impressive. Pure, rich and commanding. Blackberry and sweet plum flavours cruise into malt, cedar, earth and orange rind. Tannin comes in long chains, both majestic and seamlessly well integrated. There’s a deal of oak here but the fruit is mighty and in any case, it’s hand-in-glove. It’s absolutely in the fuller, richer, sweeter style, but it’s also an absolute beauty. (95) CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front

    Incredibly dark and inky in the glass, almost black. Opulent aromas of liqueur chocolate, mulberry, stewed plums, mocha and sweet spice. So much going on here. The palate takes no prisoners, it's decadently rich and mouth-filling with lashings of dark fruit flavours, sweet oak, anise, graphite and pudding spice. There is a decent lick of tannin and acid doing its best to control the slurpy and viscous fruit, and it does a pretty smart job. Power, poise and plushness  (95) AARON BRASHER, The Real Review

    2017
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  16. Two Hands Bella's Garden Shiraz 2020
    Two Hands Bella's Garden Shiraz 2020
    Sourced from the top of Menglers Hill in the Eden Valley, matured for 18 months in French oak (15% new). Deep crimson in hue with deep cassis and black cherry along with hints of clove, five-spice, mountain herbs, licorice, earth, ironstone and rum and raisin chocolate. Herb and spice-flecked cassis and kirsch fruits on the palate with tight powdery tannins, fine acidity and a slightly broody finish at this stage of its evolution. DAVE BROOKES, Haliday Wine Companion

    We were thoroughly impressed with the latest release from Two Hands which are embracing the best new wave wines coming out of the region. This encompasses that beautiful fruit weight and power from the Barossa tempered with Eden's cooler reaches to bring some wonderful light and shade to the final wine rather the one dimensional wines of the past from many in the region. These have always been good but this new breed is great!
    2020
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  17. Schwarz Schiller Shiraz 2020
    Schwarz Schiller Shiraz 2020
    I've been for a wander in this vineyard with Jason Schwarz before he released this wine. Planted in 1881 in Halletts Valley, it is a cracking site. Deep macerated plum, blackcurrant and blackberry fruits studded with spice, blackberry jam, pressed flowers, Old Gold chocolate, vanilla, wood spice and earth. There's a little more of a loose-knit feel to this release; it's wider in shape with chocolatey tannins and some nice sour-cherry acidity. DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion

    Deep-ish red with a strong purple tinge, the aromas herbal/foresty and red-fruited, seems indicative of a cooler site. The wine is medium-full bodied and the tannins slightly chewy and a trifle bitter on the finish. Liberal oak has been employed. Mocha and cocoa-powder. Better in a year or two. HUONE HOOK, The Real Review
    2020
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  18. Spinifex La Maline 2021
    Spinifex La Maline 2021
    Talk about nailing it. This slots straight into the realms of the glorious. It’s meaty, spicy, jammed with well-ripened fruit and just so well structured; so persistent. Plums and exotic spices, floral lifts, some undergrowth, some game. It feels filigreed; it feels certain. The complexity here, in a silken/seamless context, is right up there. (95) CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front

    “Good depth and hue of purple-ish colour, the bouquet fresh and minty, indeed a basket of fragrant herbs is there to sniff. The wine is elegant and medium-full bodied, with softly drying tannins and approachability. A wine of effortless power and style. (95) HUONE HOOKE, The Real Review
    2021
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  19. Hentley Farm The Beast Shiraz 2021
    Hentley Farm The Beast Shiraz 2021
    Shiraz, predominantly from a single sun-drenched block on the Hentley Farm estate in Seppeltsfield. Deep magenta crimson with notes of plush macerated plum, blueberry and boysenberry fruits cut deep with spice, vanilla bean, dark chocolate, tobacco, roasting meats and some pretty punchy cedar oak tones at this stage of its evolution. Opulent and pure with stunning fruit weight and flow, tight, chalky tannin and a wall of spiced dark and black fruit on the lingering finish. (95) DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion
    2021
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  20. Spinifex Rostein Shiraz 2018
    Spinifex Rostein Shiraz 2018
    First release. Hand picked, no whole bunches. Wild-yeast fermented then matured for 12 months in 50% new barriques and demi-muids. A grand newcomer for Spinifex, this is the first time this vineyard has stepped up since it was purchased in 2014. Signature Eden Valley shiraz of full purple hue, reverberating with deep-set spice, powerful blackberry and satsuma plum fruit, fresh licorice and a full serve of dark chocolate oak. Impressive concentration is consummately backed with a fine yet taut frame of intricately suspended tannins that carry the finish very long indeed. (96) TYSON STELZER, Halliday Wine Companion
    2018
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
  21. John Duval Entity Shiraz 2021 1500ml
    John Duval Entity Shiraz 2021 1500ml
    Shiraz sourced from old vineyards in the Barossa (Krondorf, Tanunda, Marananga, Ebenezer and Moppa) and the Eden Valley. Vibrant and pure at heart with deep black plum, black cherry and boysenberry fruits, plentiful exotic spice, violets, licorice and wafts of light cedar and vanillin oak. Impressive fruit depth, sandy tannin support and long, plush finish of spicy black fruits and earth. (95) DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion

    Intense purple-red colour and a spicy/meaty and dried-herb bouquet, very fragrant for such a big, powerful shiraz, with dried thyme, oregano and mace notes. The palate is powerful, concentrated and the intensity driving and long. There is delicious fruit sweetness and a warming heart to this lovely wine. Great to drink now and for at least 20 years more. (96) HUONE HOOKE, The Real Review
    2021
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
    Special Price $148.00 Regular Price $175.00
  22. Standish Schubert Theorem Shiraz 2022
    Standish Schubert Theorem Shiraz 2022

    Roennfeldt Road, Marananga
    I'm excited to taste this, as it was my favourite cuvée last year. It usually changes year to year, given the seasons, and I like that. It's usually the only cuvée to enjoy the benefits of an alternate vessel—a concrete egg—and this year, the 2022 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz joins the Relic and the Standish as well.

    The impact of the egg in this wine is one of refinement, or so I see it; it retains a purity of fruit at the core, which speaks to the chalky tannins that spool through the finish. They're chewy and seductive and really great. It's a beautiful release—not shimmering like the 2021, but textural and fine and elongated in its way. It's a beguiling wine, a thinking wine. And, as with the other wines tasted alongside, the bottle that has been open for two days is infinitely more complete; however, it must be noted that this review is built on the freshly opened bottle. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax. (98+) ERIN LARKIN

    2022
    shiraz
    Australia
    349
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