Schubert Estate The Sentinel Shiraz 2016
- 95
- $100
- Drink by: 2022-2038
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The Marananga sub-region of the Barossa Valley speaks so clearly in this delightful Shiraz. The area lies on ancient red soils, rich in ironstone and quartzite close to the Valley floor, and is a favourite place for sourcing Shiraz from makers such as Penfolds, Hentley Farm, Chateau Tanunda, amongst others. Schubert delivers lifted scents of dusty cacao, macaroon, aromatic spice, fennel seed, set among a trove of black fruits and fleshy, sweet blueberries. Marananga brings an upfront juiciness to Shiraz fruit combined with a natural ferrous, mineral-led fineness. Even in its youth, which the 2016 definitely is, there is an elegance emerging. Fine, firm tannins from time in new and seasoned French oak are nicely combined. Concentrated and intense, I noted in my tasting that it is a meal in itself. With that in mind, save a glass to savour by itself.
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.
