“As 2024 comes to its final quarter, I reflect on some of the trips I have been fortunate enough to go on this year, and a good many of them were to South Australia, for one reason or another. It’s a state of diversity, high quality and talent.” – EL
2022 Dave’s Block | Blythmans Road, Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale Shiraz
– 96 points
Drink Date:
2024 – 2037
“The 2022 Dave’s Block Blythmans Road Blewitt Springs is in possession of all the silky McLaren Vale fruit: black cherry, raspberry, a little bit of licorice and star anise, red apple skins and some pressed incense. In the mouth, the wine is inky and densely packed with silty tannin. A classy wine here, albeit bottled in extremely heavy glass—just over two kilograms when full. 14.6% alcohol, sealed under Diam.” – EL
Published: Oct 25, 2024
2022 Coach House Block | Seppeltsfield Rd, Greenock, Barossa Valley Shiraz
– 95 points
Drink Date:
2024 – 2037
“The 2022 Coach House Block Seppeltsfield Road Greenock Shiraz is polished and inky, with dark tannins underpinning the current of dark fruit. It is fresh, but it’s no wallflower in its delivery of punchy fruit and toasty oak. Everything feels nicely within range here, and I like it. Black and blue, graphite, asphalt, ozone—there’s a nice “concrete-feeling” purity here. 14.3% alcohol, sealed under Diam.” – EL
Published: Oct 25, 2024
2022 Waterfall Block | Waterfall Gully Road, Burnside, Adelaide Shiraz
– 94 points
Drink Date:
2024 – 2037
“The 2022 Waterfall Block Waterfall Gully Road Burnside Shiraz is floral and aromatic, with strawberries and cranberry, pomegranate and garden roses. In the mouth, the wine is shaped by a profusion of tannin, but it retains some levity in its prettiness. A lovely wine, grounded and fresh. The tannins are pliable and ductile, plentiful but chewy. So far, I am preferring the 2022s to the bigger, more robust 2021s. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam.” – EL
Published: Oct 25, 2024
2022 Secret Block | Wildlife Road, Moppa Hills, Barossa Valley Shiraz
– 94 points
Drink Date:
2024 – 2037
“The 2022 Secret Block Wildlife Road Moppa Hills Shiraz smells of raspberry jam, burnt brown sugar and roasted game. In the mouth, the wine is powerful, structured and firm, with traces of aniseed, dark chocolate and sweet beetroot. Lots going on here! From the Western Ridge of Barossa. 14.2% alcohol, sealed Under Diam.” – EL
Published: Oct 25, 2024
2022 Yacca Block | Menglers Hill, Eden Valley Shiraz
– 94 points
Drink Date:
2024 – 2037
“The 2022 Yacca Block Menglers Hill Shiraz is earthy and spiced, with cardamom pods, paperbark tree, black cherry and pomegranate. In the mouth, the wine is full throttle and speaks so clearly of the Barossa—tannins that have this inkwell, iodine, ferruginous quality are seldom found outside of this iconic region. This here is more robust in structure than some of the others in the lineup, but the confidence here makes that really quite attractive. Self-assured. One gets the feeling that this will improve further with time open or a big glass. 14.6% alcohol, sealed under Diam.” – EL
Published: Oct 25, 2024
2022 Holy Grail | Seppeltsfield Road, Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley Shiraz
– 94 points
Drink Date:
2024 – 2037
“The 2022 Holy Grail Seppeltsfield Road Seppeltsfield Shiraz leads with blackcurrant pastille, cocoa, dark chocolate, licorice and blueberry. On the palate, the wine follows in exactly these footsteps and is shaped by firm but not intrusive tannins. I like the fresh core of fruit that exists within this wine—perhaps the acidity emphasizes this, but it works very well. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam.” – EL
Published: Oct 25, 2024
