Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz 2021
- 96
- $165
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From some of the oldest Shiraz vines in the world, dating back to 1854. Bordering on opaque, with a deep crimson colour. It’s deep and dark aromatically — fine cedar, graphite, plum, black cherry, blackberry, mocha, liquorice and dark chocolate. A sweeping cut of black pepper spice, salted grilled meat and black olive add savoury appeal, along with dried rosemary and oregano. With time, notes of mushroom, tilled earth and salt crust emerge. There’s a lot going on here, all presented in a neatly elegant aesthetic. The palate has good intensity while remaining lifted and elegant — blackberry, plum, black pepper, earth, dark chocolate and liquorice. Bright acidity slices through and freshens things, while beautifully integrated grainy tannins provide frame and carry to long length. Barossa Shiraz of the highest order, exuding elegance and intensity in tandem. A great release.
Tom Kline is a wine writer, reviewer, presenter, and educator based in Victoria, Australia. He is the Australian correspondent for the internationally respected publications Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy and Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux, where he highlights the top tier of Australian wine for a global audience. Tom also writes for leading outlets including Decanter (UK), Wine Spectator (US), and Halliday Magazine, among others. An experienced wine show judge and WSET educator, he has authored several consumer-focused wine courses aimed at making wine more accessible and engaging. In 2023, Tom was awarded Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column at the prestigious Wine Communicator Awards, presented by Wine Communicators of Australia.
