Krondorf King’s Mantle Shiraz Barossa Valley 2022

A black monster with polite tendencies. Blackberry, black cherry and heavily steeped . Black teeth by the end of the night, too. There’s an old-boy warmth and charm that brings delight, and the kind of comfort only big reds can give. In the mouth, there’s an inkiness. Broad, but never sloppy. As I’m drinking (April 2026), it reads tight, a clear indication that time will reward. Liquorice bullets, peak-season black fruit cut and tossed, warm wood spice and mocha made with couverture. The dark, chocolatey tannins are abundant and cling to your teeth, but would cling even better to the fat marbling through a wagyu steak. Decant or aerate if you plan to drink it in the next five years.