Château Tanunda The Everest Barossa Shiraz 2019

The name might suggest a pinnacle has been reached for Château Tanunda, at least in terms of its Shiraz. The heavy, deep-punted Burgundy bottle reinforces the idea, as does the price tag. The boldness of personality seals it. This is what many drinkers would accept as the epitome of Barossa Shiraz: a combination of old vines, long hang time on the vine, a low yielding/high quality vintage and irresistibly rich, dense flavours. And it delivers just that. Tilting on the monumental it launches into a world of woodsy spiciness, vanillin and smoky, splashed liberally over generous black berries, stewed plums, chocolate, raisin, dried fruit notes, pepper and mint. High-ish alcohol is present as is lingering woodsy oak, firm tannins and a long finish. Shiraz is turned up to 11, but it arrives in the glass with complete confidence and an ability to age further and expand.

Jeni Port

Wine critic at Winepilot

Jeni Port is one of Australia’s top wine communicators. Based in Melbourne, Jeni created the first wine column in the (then) Sun News-Pictorial before moving over to The Age and becoming that paper’s longest-serving wine writer. Over the years she has written for most Australian wine magazines and these days calls WinePilot home. She is also a Tasting Panel member on the Halliday Wine Companion. She was named Wine Communicator of the Year and Legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2014 and in 2018 Legend of the Vine. She is a founding board member of Australian Women In Wine and is the co-deputy chair of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards and China’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

Wine writer and critic