St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2022

First released in 1994 to celebrate head winemaker Stuart Blackwell (who is an excellent birdlife photographer, by the way) for over 30 years of service. With fruit mostly from the Northern end of the Barossa Valley and matured in American oak. Deep and fragrant: baking spices, rose petals, hibiscus flower, cocoa, blackberry and grilled blood plum. Oak influenced tones of bourbon and vanilla bean paste, along with chocolate brownie give a comforting wrap over all. Layered and complex, the tannins are also ripe and elegant, supporting the full bodied structure holding that potent and concentrated fruit. Has decades ahead of it.

Regan Drew

Regan is a regular wine columnist for the News Regional Media "Weekend" Magazine and digital "Life" sections. A graduate of the Australian Wine Research Institute's Advanced Wine Assessment Course #47 he was awarded with Distinction WSET Level 3 in Wine & Spirits, has been an Associate Judge for the New South Wine Awards plus a couple of little stints helping out in the Hunter Valley and Tasmania during vintages with small but quality winemakers.