⭐ Critic Scores

• 95 pts — James Suckling:

  “Loads of cracked black pepper and green pepper character with some dried stem and black fruits. It’s full-bodied and tannin driven. Lots of cloves at the end, too. Drink now.” olivers-wines.com.au+15

• 97 pts — Wine Enthusiast (Christina Pickard):

  “From vines more than 120 years old at the higher altitudes of the Eden Valley, this wine is gorgeously balanced and open right from the get go. The pure, brambly fruit swirls with notes of licorice, baking spice, cracked pepper, black olive and the pan scrapings of a roast. The cooler climes really show on the palate where pristine acidity lifts the fruit to tangy territory, giving a linear shape to the wine. The tannins are chalky, spicy and superbly integrated. This could age until 2050 at least.” 

• 93 pts — Wine Spectator:
  Noted aromas and flavours of toasted herb, chicory, green tea, tar, and loamy earth — with a classic Eden Valley savouriness Wine Spectator.

• 97 pts — Jeremy Oliver:
  Also awarded a 97 points, suggesting long-term ageing potential through 2047

Overview

A very smoky and Northern Rhone style like Shiraz. Outstanding colour featuring a dense inky black core and a very deep dark red black hue. Pronounced black cherry and liquorice aromas have a smoky overlay with dried meats, black olive, scorched earth and peppered dried herbs also evident. Full bodied with a ripe meaty textural feel, rich black cherry, blackberry and liquorice fruits infused with charry oak are trailed by dried herb, scorched earth, some dried meat characters and spicy pepper. Ripe chewy tannins provide a muscular framework. Bright acidity on the finish with a long smoky pepper aftertaste.