Winemaker Notes
Intense, lifted aromatics of dense cherry plum and dark chocolate all come to the fore with an opulent fruit profile of mulberry and five-spice. A silky textured palate of deep red cherry fruits, clove and liquorice all interwoven with hints of sweet spice and cinnamon. The layers and diverse fruit characters continue to evolve in the glass with hints of ironstone, anise, blackberry, and pepper all becoming more
persistent in the finish.
Pairs well with grilled or roast beef, ribs, spicy sausage, big beefy stews, strong or hard cheese.
Professional Ratings
-
Vinous
Inky ruby color. Expansive aromas of dark fruit liqueur, incense, candied flowers, Indian spices and vanilla. Has a smoky mineral quality that gains strength as the wine opens up. Fleshy, sweet and broad on the palate, offering impressively concentrated yet lively blackcurrant, boysenberry and violet pastille flavors that are lifted and sharpened by a smoky mineral flourish. Smooth, seamless and appealingly sweet on an extremely long, floral-dominated finish that's framed by suave, well-knit tannins.
-
James Suckling
A blend of shiraz and 2% viognier. This is a blend of six very old vineyards (1850-1901 plantings), aged for 29 months in French oak barriques, 40% new. There’s a very strong expression of red and darker berries and plums, dark spices and dark stones here. The oak adds fresh-spice complexity. The palate has a super deep, dense and rich feel with such long but gentle tannins. Fluid and flowing style, super fine texture and a flavor-soaked finish. Drink or hold.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 RunRig leads with leather and pressed incense, dark berry fruit and tapenade. The palate is far lighter than the nose would suggest, offering black cherry and raspberry seed. This is finer than the 2016 tasted alongside, which has a truly weighty fruit profile in the mouth. This may perhaps lend itself to drinking a little earlier than some other vintages in this lineup. It's a lovely wine from a cold and wet vintage, perhaps not dissimilar in conditions to 2023. 15% alcohol.
-
Wine Spectator
Focuses on a beam of pure fruit flavors, with crushed raspberry, maraschino cherry, framboise and blueberry, highlighted by cream soda, nutmeg and cigar box details. Impressive for its boldness, but also shows plenty of restraint, with a stunning finish that goes on and on. Shiraz and Viognier. Drink now through 2035.
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.