Winemaker Notes
A rich, deep crimson red, with vibrant hues. Complex layers of blackberry, fine cocoa and hints of baking spices gently elevate from the glass. This is an opulent and elegant Barossa Shiraz with complex flavors of blackberry and black forest, followed by waves of cocoa and baking spice on the middle palate. The supple tannins are well polished, persistent, and perfectly complement the American oak.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 and 2019 Blackwell Shiraz were tasted side by side; there exists no better way to compare and contrast a wine than this. This 2019 parades its toasted biscuit/resinous oak over the fruit, and shows the density and compacted nature of the vintage. The wine matured 14 months in oak, which is certainly not at the long end of the spectrum, yet the fruit has absorbed it, grain, knot and burl. The length of flavor is impressive, which forgives all exuberance of oak. Give it a couple of years for the fruit and oak to catch up with each other. Best After 2024
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Wine Spectator
Offers a core of black cherry flavors alongside details of spice, tobacco, cedar and baking spices, with gripping tannins and lingering notes of loam. Drink now.
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Decanter
A spicy, inky wine with blackberry and dark plum fruits, liquorice, moderately firm tannins and a lovely richness and elegance at the same time. Blend : 97% Shiraz, 2% Sémillon, 2% Tempranillo
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
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.