The Big Barossa Experience Tasting 2025
There is plenty of talent young and old making their voices heard and with access to some of the country’s oldest vines it’s a new story in an old place. The dial has slowly been moving away from the high-octane fruit bombs wines of the past to wines that still embrace the region's warmth and plush fruit profile but look to deliver that with real character, depth and so much more detail than we have seen before.
The most exciting wines are far removed from the Barossa’s historical ‘reserve’ styles, so prevalent in the early 2000s. Suddenly, there’s dramatic contrast at play – a rigorous pull between red and black flavour profiles, as lithe and luscious textures wrestle with tannic grip – proving that more Barossa winemakers have found smart ways to express intense old vine flavours with greater nuance and poise. DECANTER
It's exciting to watch and even more exciting to drink with the next wave of Barossa producers eagerly putting their stamp on the future for everyone to enjoy. We have put together some of the region's best with a particular focus on smaller producers and the next generation of winemakers that have been sweating away carving out their own little niche from the engine room of Australian wines.
Cheers
The team at Prince Wine Store
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Glaetzer Anaperenna Shiraz Cabernet 2022A deeply coloured cabernet sauvignon, one possessed of opulent black-fruited heft and a slightly broody disposition. Ben Glaetzer's wines are no wallflowers. There is no expectation of pontificating on space or filigree. You just stare at the glass, google-eyed at its latent power and opulence. Not a herbaceous bone in this wine's torso. Just thick black fruits, licorice, earth, graphite, fine, sandy tannins and a smooth, hydraulically consistent flow of rich fruit far into the distance. DAVE BROOKES, WWW.WINECOMPANION.COM2022Cab/ShirazAustralia349$57.00 As low as $51.30 -
Paisley Wines Turntable GSM 2022Ripe blackberry, dark plum and mulberry fruits cut with clove, dried citrus rind, turned earth, citrus blossom, licorice and fruitcake. Toothsome, fine tannins provide shape to the plush, dark and black fruits on the palate and there are layers of spice and scattered herbs as the wine retreats. DAVE BROOKES, www.winecompanion.com.au2021GSMAustralia349$21.00 As low as $18.90 -
Teusner Utopos Shiraz 2021More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022shirazAustralia349$83.00 As low as $74.70 -
Teusner Avatar GSM 202360/30/10% grenache/mataro/shiraz from the parishes of Ebenezer, Moppa, Seppeltsfield, Williamstown and Tanunda. The Avatar is always a firm favourite and the 2023 version does not disappoint. Medium bodied, pure plummy fruits, dredged with spice, citrus blossom top-notes, earth, gingerbread and a touch of sarsaparilla in the background. Ditto on the palate! Balanced, fine, gentle, pillowy tannins and a whole lot of drinkability. DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion
Blend of grenache, mataro and shiraz.This is a particularly ferrous version of Avatar. It tastes of plum, earth, peppercorns and raspberry, but it’s the licorices-shot ferrous notes that really define its flavour profile. It’s well balanced in general and feels fresh and juicy, though there’s more than enough flavour to satisfy. There’s good linger to the finish too. It’s another very good release. CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front
2023Rhone BlendAustralia349$38.00 As low as $34.20 -
Teusner Bilmore Shiraz 2021More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2021shirazAustralia349$28.00 As low as $25.20 -
Torbreck The Struie Shiraz 2023Shiraz from 76/24% Barossa Valley/Eden Valley. Deep magenta/crimson with aromas of blackberry, black cherry and blood plum underscored with hints of clove, bay leaf, licorice, dried meats, sage, mace, dark chocolate, graphite and violets. Oak, while there, is never a dominant feature in Torbreck wines; it's always about the fruit and the fruit here is black, spicy and has a long pull, with powdered, granitic tannins and plenty of latent power. DAVE BROOKES, www.winecompanion.com.au2023shirazAustralia349$59.00 As low as $53.10 -
Michael Hall Barossa Valley Roussanne 2023This was barrel fermented and rested in wood for 9 months afterwards.
This is a wine that takes on texture seriously. It’s the Bosc pear skin and hazelnut husks, quince flesh and roasted cashews. It has a fine bitter grip and pithy grapefruit sensation on the palate. You’ll find lots of satisfaction in its composition. Sipping on, there’s baked apple and apricot stone in the aftertaste with a lick of salt that boosts it further. Graceful, textural wine. KASIA SOBIESIAK, The Wine Front
Barossa Valley roussanne, fermented in tank and French oak puncheons (18% new) and matured for nine months on lees. Light mid-straw with rich, inviting characters of juicy white peach, nectarine, soft spice, custard apple and citrus fruits. There's some yellow plum in the mix too and hints of soft spice, curd, white flowers, almond paste and stone. Expansive and spicy yet focused and showing clarity and a bright, minerally cadence. (93) DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companion2023RoussaneAustralia349$42.00 As low as $37.80 -
Michael Hall Sang de Pigeon Shiraz 2023From the pigeon series, as the public likes to pronounce it, none of that fancy French [pi·jon], just your straight-to-the-point English. Michael embraced this iteration, and he calls these wines the pigeon series himself now too (with the proper English accent and humour being an Englishman).
I must say, all the wines from the pigeon series are pretty solid and represent good value across the board. This is immediately satisfying in its perfume, with raspberries and notes of brittle caramel, with a smooth texture, finishing with a burst of chocolatey tannins. It’s lifted and vivid, juicy and crunchy, flavourful. All the elements go well together in a medium-bodied and very agreeable way. KASIA SOBIESIAK, www.winfront.com
2023shirazAustralia349$33.00 As low as $29.70 -
Spinifex Indigene 2021Blend of shiraz and mataro.
Rich, full-blooded red wine served on rails of velvet. This is a seriously creamy wine, its saturated plum and blueberry flavours gliding through the palate before finishing with a juicy flourish. There’s fine-grained tannin and quite high acidity, but the fruit and oak characters here flush straight through both. Mint and clove notes are also part of the show, as is smoked cedar. It’s still finding its feet but the stuffing here is excellent. CAMPBELL MATTINSON
2021Rhone BlendAustralia349$85.00 As low as $76.50 -
Massena Verto Shiraz 2022Deep, saturated crimson in the glass with opulent aromas of black cherry conserve, blood plum, blackberry and cassis. Baking spices, dark chocolate, violets, licorice allsorts, panforte, cherry clafoutis, crème de cassis and earth. Full bodied, seriously unctuous and pure, with plenty of textural swagger and fruit depth. Impeccably balanced, chalky tannins and acidity totally in tune with that luscious fruit. Finishes dark and slinky with structure for some extended cellaring. GOLD MEDAL DAVE BROOKES, www.winecompanion.com2022shirazAustralia349$74.00 As low as $66.60 -
Chaffey Bros 'Evangeline' Syrah 2022"Single vineyard; 15% whole bunch, 15% new French oak. Pure, plummy fruits with some blueberry lift and hints of five-spice, sage, citrus blossom, blueberry pie, peppercorn, vanillin oak and panforte. It's a lovely contemporary Eden Valley shiraz this. Expressive and finely structured with a real pep to its travel across the palate. DAVE BROOKS, www.winecompanion.com2022shirazAustralia$44.00 As low as $39.60