Sourced from a vineyard right on the border of the Barossa Valley floor and the Eden Valley. By Marco Cirillo’s own admission it’s a bit of a mangy looking site but it produces high quality grapes. A step up from the very good 2011 release. Exuberantly fruited and fresh. Exhibits a savoury meatiness which sets off its other characteristics.
Boysenberries, plums and blackberries alongside rare char-grilled steaks, choc-licorice bullets and damp, ferrous earth. Juicy and spicy (pepper dominant five spice) with the acidity providing an endearing buoyancy while a spread of textured tannin anchors the experience. Only a notch over medium-bodied with minimal oak influence. Terrific flow, good shape in the mouth. A wine to bring stray sheep back into the Barossa Shiraz fold. 93
Region: Barossa Valley
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $25
Tasted: April 2014
This wine is a perfect example of how to deflect the artefact driven wines masquerading as consumer darlings. Yes, consumers love those. But they also love this, and other good likenesses. Rich, full, mouth filling, yet effortlessly so. Fluid and fluent. Great wine.