Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz 2019

A blend of Eden Valley and Barossa Shiraz, the key to this superb wine is the old vines and careful oak handling. Yalumba cooper their own oak octaves for this wine, while the oldest vines date back to 1854. For this vintage, 55% of the wine hails from the Eden Valley with the remainder from the Barossa. Maturation was for nineteen months in French oak hogsheads and barriques, with one quarter of them new. They also use the 100-litre French oak octaves. Inky dark maroon in colour, there are still lashings of oak here, even with an extended period in the cellar, but integration is proceeding well. It is quality oak and supported by notes of chocolate, mocha, coffee beans, blackberries, root vegetables, axle grease, graphite, bay leaves and licorice. There is great intensity here. Seamless in structure with a slippery texture and serious length, it finishes with fine tannins. There is good power throughout and a lingering finish. A twenty year proposition.