2012 Yalumba Steeple Vineyard Shiraz

Sourced from the Yalumba Steeple vineyard planted in 1919, on its own roots, close to the Light Pass township on the floor of the Barossa Valley. Matured for 24 months in French oak barriques, 27% new, 15% one year old and the balance in older oak.

Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Scented aromas of blackberry, liquorice and dark plum meld into some vanillin cedar, earth and spice. Rich yet poised and supple with great fruit purity and exemplary length, opulently textured flavours of liquorice, ripe blackberries and some dark plums glide across the palate underpinned by spicy vanillin cedar, a hint of dark chocolate and pepper. Beautifully integrated velvet smooth tannins concluding with an exceptionally long aftertaste of ripe blackberries, liquorice, dark plums and spicy vanillin oak.
Cellar 8-10 years.
Alc 13.5%

Other Reviews….
You want to use some English wine writers' phrases such as ‘charming', liable to cause the wrong impression in Australia, but it's true of this wine (and the '13 vintage). Part of the special quality of this vineyard is its evident ability to fully ripen shiraz at 13.5%, retaining shape and structure as it does so. Same issue of deformed cork and evidence of wine travel. Drink by 2037.
97 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion