Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has quite a classical style to it with bold, tar-crusted blackberry aromas and grilled nuts, praline and baking-spiced oak. The palate has a very plush, fluid and rich feel with immense depth, velvety tannins and a long, rich, dark-fruit finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of Eden Valley and Barossa Valley fruit, Smith's 2016 Shiraz is a fine effort, marrying floral and spice notes from altitude with richness and depth from the valley floor. It's full-bodied and supple, with a ripe, creamy texture and a long, velvety finish that echoes with boysenberries, plums and dried spices.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine's fragrant, floral nose is easy to like. Plump cranberries, blueberries and plums, violets, vanilla and black pepper are backed by tilled earth, damp leaves and mushroom characters. The palate is full and plush but not syrupy. A spine of grainy, savory tannins holds up the tangy fruit and oak spice
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Wine Spectator
Dark, rich and highly perfumed, with notes of cedar, white pepper, kirsch and sandalwood, all mingling on a plush, satiny frame. Black walnut, milk chocolate and plum jam flavors linger on the finish.
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.”
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.