Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 2016

I had one question for Peter Lehmann Senior Winemaker Tim Dolan about this wine – can you make a better Stonewell than the 2016 vintage? Tim said no, and I agreed – this is a monumental release of this Barossa icon.

Made with fruit sourced from Moppa, Stonewell and Ebenezer, including some elevated vineyards, and from an excellent vintage, this is a beautifully pitched Barossan with crystal clear long aging potential. Deeply coloured and currently quite closed and compact, it slowly unpacks in the glass. Blackberry and blueberry at first before more savoury elements emerge – liquorice and fresh tar well matched by new large French oak. The palate is then dry and muscular but well composed with a freight train of dark and rocky fruits supported by a firm structure. Great winemaking, vintage and fruit quality have come together beautifully in this wine which will age well.