Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz 2021

  • 97
  • $165
  • Drink by: 2026-2046

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The oldest vines used for this quintessential Barossa/Eden Valley Shiraz date back to the 1850s and the vines have an average of well over a century. The oak used comes from the Yalumba cooperage and includes a percentage which is new. Time in oak has been reduced from past years and the wine benefits from it. This is also from the superb 2021 vintage, making it as close to a slam dunk as one could wish. Under cork. Opaque maroon/purple, the nose does have lashings of high quality but well integrated oak. They sit comfortably with aromas of plums, cassis, chocolate, blackberries, coffee beans and mocha. The wine is supple, plush, dense, concentrated and immaculately balanced. So long, and yet the intensity is maintained for the full length, through to the finish with its furry tannins. An absolutely gorgeous Shiraz, which will sail through the next two decades.

Ken Gargett
Contributor at Winepilot

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.

Wine writer and critic
Pilot
Ken Gargett
Date
Variety: Red Wine, Shiraz
Categories: Drinks, Australian Wines