Winemaker Notes
Deep crimson to dark plum core. Intensely lifted red and blue fruits dominate the aromas of mulberry, red plum, redcurrant and red cherry. Spices like sandalwood, cinnamon bark, and star anise also add complexity. The palate is more robust than past vintages with denser plusher red fruits and a silky mouthfeel and added weight that glides across the tongue.
Blend: 50% Grenache, 31% Shiraz, 19% Mataro
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Very vibrant with a savory undertone, giving aromas of blood plums, blackberry compote, tobacco leaves and cloves. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins, bright acidity, a generous mouthfeel and notes of dark cherries, dried herbs, iodine and mocha. A balanced yet powerful blend of 50% grenache, 31% shiraz and 19% mataro.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 The Steading is juicy, fleshy and aromatically abundant. It is routinely a reliably satisfying wine, and it has been ever since I started drinking wine. Framed by this fine, fresh, late vintage, the Steading looks better than ever, with raspberry, licorice, mulberry, star anise and a hint of aniseed. Super! 15% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax.
Rating: 94+ -
Wine Enthusiast
Oodles of ripe, plush dark berry and plum fruit rush from the glass, the more savory, toasty oak-driven aromas tucked beneath the surface. It's a rich, mouth-filling wine with a touch of alcohol heat. There's plenty of polish and power, but also heaps of upfront fruity appeal.
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Decanter
Intensely primary, relatively open knit at the moment, with juicy, fleshy plum, red berry and cherry fruit, lifted kirsch, blossom and bergamot jelly bean. Smooth, ripe tannins offer little resistance to the fruit flow. Vibrant and appealing, if missing a bit of Mataro spice and grip. Perhaps a year or two in bottle will do the trick.
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Vinous
The fruit forward 2022 The Steading, a blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro, is attractive. It presents vibrant aromas of dark cherry and blackberry conserve with a gentle herbal/earthy lift. Fleshy upfront, but with genuine tannins in support offering smoky meat and spicy flavors in a muscular frame.
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Wine Spectator
Distinctive and expressive, with date nut bread, nutmeg, Earl Grey and star anise accents to the plum, cherry and blueberry flavors at the core. Highly detailed, with smooth, satiny tannins lingering on the long, beautiful finish. Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro. Drink now through 2034.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Historically and presently the most important wine-producing region of Australia, the Barossa Valley is set in the Barossa zone of South Australia, where more than half of the country’s wine is made. Because the climate is very hot and dry, vineyard managers work diligently to ensure grapes reach the perfect levels of phenolic ripeness.
The intense heat is ideal for plush, bold reds, particularly Shiraz on its own or Rhône Blends. Often Shiraz and Cabernet partner up for plump and powerful reds.
While much less prevalent, light-skinned varieties such as Riesling, Viognier or Semillon produce vibrant Barossa Valley whites.
Most of Australia’s largest wine producers are based here and Shiraz plantings date back as far as the 1850s or before. Many of them are dry farmed and bush trained, still offering less than one ton per acre of inky, intense, purple juice.