Peter Lehmann Stonewell Barossa Shiraz 2017

Incredible colour; dense, dark and staining the sides of the glass as you swirl. It smells like chocolate cake slathered with vanilla bean-scented ganache while plush blackberries and blackcurrants reveal themselves after a moment, alongside a delicate violet wisp. Still sprightly and youthful, the age shows up as just a hint of leather. In the mouth it is rich and silky, with more luscious dark chocolate grabbing the limelight ahead of blueberries and a eucalyptus-scented breeze. With partial barrel fermentation and 18 months in French oak, the oak is beautifully integrated, offering up light cedar and pouch tobacco complexity. There’s a lot going on here. In a beautiful way the intensity is balanced with a freshness and elegance rarely achieved in Barossa Shiraz.