Yalumba Octavius Old Vine Shiraz 2019

Fascinating having this alongside the 2009. The tannins here are still silky, but younger and more muscular at five years old, with the fruit clearly sweeter and more dense. Think raspberry and blackberry pastille, still with the through-line of balsamic and liquorice, and here a slab of black chocolate, rosemary and olive pit, with a tar and campfire smoke twist on the finish. Delicious now, but will reward ageing and then some. Harvest February 22 to March 15. Average age of the vines at this point is 104 years, with 55% Eden Valey and 45% Barossa (significantly higher Eden sourcing than was the case a decade earlier). 25% new French oak. 97 Points Jane Anson, janeanson.com, Sep 2024

How Octavius has evolved over the last decade! Once a massive hulking dinosaur, resplendent in its American oak armour, lumbering along through the ages, beloved of geriatric drinkers. Nowadays, this wine is made from virtually the same fruit, but its oak regime is forward- looking,  engineered for agility and not just sheer weight. This suits Octavius exceptionally well because this 2019 is a thunderously successful wine with the most detailed and resonant fruit I have tasted under this label. It is such a relief for this onceoutlier in the Yalumba portfolio to finally join the rest of the mind- blowing reds. In 2019, Octavius finally arrived, and it will thrill all-comers. 19+/20 Points Matthew Jukes - Oct 2024

Ink black core, deep ruby and purple tones into the rim. Heady nose of ripe mulberry, ironstone, anise and cedar shavings. The palate fills with plush blue and purple fruits, an instant realisation that many elements are in play, all melded with a seamless purity that impresses. Savoury notes of ferrous minerals, dark spices and mocha all build this wine up whilst fine, gravelly tannins ensure that intensity translates to a driven and incredibly long palate. This is just a pup but so approachable in its texture, will build even more as it ages. 97 Points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review, Aug 2024