This two acre vineyard was planted in 1920 in the foothills of Willunga. The soils are deep, gravelly loams and this block always show great old vine complexity with a suppleness of Willunga soils. A very different wine to those produced from the Coriole estate. The nose shows blueberry and sage with hints of charcuterie. The palate is very soft and rich, beautifully framed by very fine tannin and finished by a floral rose lift.
"Deep crimson. Intense blackberry, roasted chestnut aromas with liquorice, herb garden notes. Wonderfully concentrated and polished wine with ample blackberry, dark chocolate flavours, persistent chocolaty firm tannins, superb mid-palate richness and integrated roasted chestnut/ grilled almond/ espresso notes. Finishes chocolaty with a long tannin plume. Keep for a while. A classic in the making. 98 points"
Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
"Ink black at the core, deep purple into the rim. Mulberry, mocha, and black earth aromas. Deeply weighted with intense mulberry and blood plum fruits, layered amongst black slate, cured meat and dark spices. An intensely complex wine with an equally robust framework of gravelly tannins. It demands your complete attention from start to the incredibly long finish. This has many great years ahead of it. 96 points"
The Real Review
"Dense, with a ferrous and ‘mineral’ feel, blueberry and blackberry, some dried herbs and meatiness, subtle cedar spice oak. It’s full-bodied, all the stone and crushed rock, balanced acidity, wonderful depth and intensity, and a long finish showing glimmers of red fruit and tannin of superb quality. Top shelf. Outstanding Shiraz. 95+ points"
Gary Walsh, Winefront
"Hand picked from centurion vines. Fermented traditionally in open tops, matured in French oak for 15 months (15% new). Dense. Mocha oak. Black fruits. Volcanic powdered rocks. Power and plenty of heat packed across the throaty finish. Yet there is a beguiling latency to this. I feel that what I am tasting will transmogrify into something truly compelling such are the florals, vinosity and creamy yet tightly furled core of compressed, succulent, glorious tannins. 95 points"
Ned Goodwin, Halliday Wine Companion