Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine Barossa Shiraz 2020
- 96
- $165
- Drink by: 2025-2045
Share
One of the legendary Barossa Shiraz releases, this is a fine addition to the Octavius line-up. Vines used here date back to 1854 (the Eden Valley component), while the name comes from the tradition of using octaves from the Yalumba cooperage. The blend is 69% Eden Valley and 31% Barossa, giving an average age of a rather impressive 111 years. The wine will spend the best part of two years maturing in a mix of French oak vessels, around one-quarter new. Under cork. An opaque maroon with a purple rim. This is still tight and poised, very youthful. If circumstances permit, give it another three to four years in the bottle before opening (though it is already rather delicious), and then enjoy over the following fifteen to twenty. The nose is all chocolate, mocha, cassis, delicatessen meats, spices, herbs, sage and tobacco leaves. This is extremely well structured, seamless with a creamy texture, balance, length and abundant, silky tannins. There is really good intensity for the full journey. Great stuff and a wonderful climax to what is perhaps the finest collection of prestige wines I have seen from Yalumba.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
