The Signature screams a pedigree that goes back over fifty years with each vintage a tribute to a member of the wider Yalumba family. It is a classic, old-fashioned ‘Claret’ style. – mid weight, reserved and with structure for the long haul. It is a bit of an undervalued gem, as while not particularly showy when young, these are wines that sing with some age and really should be in every decent local wine wine cellar.

The current release very much speaks of the year and the generous and instantly appealing wines that is has created. They won’t live as long as some of the great South Australian vintages but are also absolutely delicious to drink now and over the next ten to fifteen years.

The fruit here is concentrated and lush – with lashings of mulberry, blackcurrant and cedary fruits well matched by spicy oak. That fruit generosity continues on the palate with ripe fruit and quite open-knit tannins. There is already a touch of cigar-box development too which makes the wines very complex for its relatively youthful age. It’s good fruit length and balance also will help the wine to drink well for at least a decade.