Winemaker Notes
Deep crimson with bright crimson hues. Intense aromas of ripe, spicy red currant, Satsuma plum, rhubarb, boysenberry and blackberry with lifted hints of cassis, violets, sage, bay leaf, black pepper, baking spices and cedar. The palate has excellent depth and structure with plush, ripe dark fruits and a balanced acid line driving the mid-palate long and finishing with savoury spice and dried herbs in unison with the elegant, fine-grained tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend of old-vine Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc is open and fragrant yet powerful and dense right from the get go. Concentrated damson plum and black currant are backed by notes of dark chocolate, licorice, eucalyptus and tomato leaf, with a sanguine nuance. The tannins are powerful and drying but hold the silky fruit neatly in place. Drink 2023–2035. Cellar Selection
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Keyneton Euphonium beautifully marries the mint and herb of the Bordeaux varieties with the plumminess and spice of the Shiraz. Hints of mint, tea and violets accent dark, plummy fruit, then finish with savory overtones of black olive. It's full-bodied and supple, ready to drink now or age 15 or more years.
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Wine Spectator
Complex and aromatic, this red offers black tea, dark chocolate, crushed pine needles and licorice-laced blackberry and plum flavors that are refined and polished, with velvety tannins and a touch of cocoa powder on the finish. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2031.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
The Barossa Zone encompasses the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. Some of the oldest vines in Australia can be found here.
Barossa Valley of course is the most important and famous wine growing region in all of Australia where 140+ year-old, dry-farmed Shiraz vines still produce inky, purple and dense juice for some of Australia's best wines.
In the cooler, wetter Eden Valley sub-region, the Hill of Grace vineyard is home to famous Shiraz vines from the 1800s but the region produces also some of Australia’s very best and age-worthy Rieslings.