Craneford Firestation Barossa Shiraz 2019

The team’s flagship is a very fine Shiraz, but for me, it still needs time. At the moment, I’d opt for the No 1 Limited Edition, but that wine has the advantage of hailing from the wonderful 2021 vintage, although it is a line ball decision. However, in a decade – and presumably one is not buying this wine for immediate consumption – it may be a different matter. The wine spent around two years in American oak hogsheads, 40% of which were new. The final blend is a barrel selection. Under cork. Deep maroon hue, there is great intensity here. The wine is still extremely young. It offers notes of dark plums, spices, soy, mocha, coffee beans, chocolate, blackberries and roast meats. The texture is supple with fine tannins, while the length is most impressive and the oak deftly handled. The palate sees the emergence of notes of licorice. This is a twenty year proposition and the wine will certainly improve over that time.