Wine By Nine

Red Wine by Yalumba from Barossa Valley, Australia. Yalumba The Octavius has established a reputation as one of Australia's icon Shiraz wines, an amazing feat considering the first release was the 1990 vintage. In addition to being sourced from a number of very old vineyards in the Barossa, The Octavius is matured in American oak octaves of 90 liters capacity. It is the only red wine in the world that is matured in such small barrels. The secret of the wine not becoming overpowered by the oak lies in the wood which is seasoned at Yalumba's own on-site cooperage for eight years before the octaves are crafted. Yalumba The Octavius 2003 is very dark, impenetrable, deep black purple red in colour. A fine nose of ripe dark fruits, plums, prunes and licorice exudes scents of violets, dark chocolate and espresso. A smooth, silky textured palate seamlessly integrates inky black berry flavours. Beautifully refined with supple tannins, this is a wine of outstanding poise, elegance and length.

Red Wine by Wolf Blass from Barossa Valley, Australia. Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz is the ultimate expression of their winemakers' masterful skills, showcasing a blend of the finest parcels of fruit from selected South Australian vineyards. Made in extremely limited quantities from low yielding vines, Wolf Blass Platinum Label is, quite literally, the pick of the crop, a wine crafted to epitomize the best of vintage, variety and vineyard. Wolf Blass Platinum Label 2003 Shiraz is deep purple in color. The lifted, fragrant nose shows spicy, ripe berry and dark chocolate characters. The palate is elegant, rich and concentrated, with complex layers of blackberry, freshly ground coffee and spice supported by integrated, smoky oak, a seamless, balanced structure and long, fine tannins. Enjoy with rare-roasted eye filet of beef, venison or kangaroo. This wine's aromas may well draw you in, black and electric with mineral tension. Then the flavor delivers with sliver-thin layers of earthy complexity. This is a wine for the long haul, its gritty Barossa power restricted by French oak aging. The potential is there, as is the polish to decant it now for lamb. -Wines & Spirits

Red Wine by Glaetzer from Barossa Valley, Australia. 97-100 points WA Amon-Ra has become one of Australia's icon wines. Made from 100% Shiraz sourced from vineyards ranging in age from 80-120 years and with microscopic yields of 0.5 tons per acre, the 2006 Amon-Ra was aged for 15 months in new French and American oak. The wine is a thick, glass-coating, purple/black in color. The aromas cover a wide range of scents including smoke, vanilla, pepper, Asian spices, coconut, espresso, blueberry, and chocolate. Thick, rich, layered, and complete, this monumental wine offers extraordinary intensity and length. It requires 10-15 years to fully evolve and should easily last through 2040. Hats off to Ben Glaetzer for producing an extraordinary portfolio! The renowned winemaker, Ben Glaetzer, sources all of his fruit for this label from the Ebenezer district in the northern Barossa. Many knowledgeable experts cite this sub-region as the finest in the Valley. - Wine Advocate

Red Wine by Henschke from Barossa Valley, Australia. In 1912, Ronald Angas planted the sandy loam slopes of Mount Edelstone with Shiraz. Located high in the Eden Valley region this vineyard came to be known as Mount Edelstone meaning gemstone. The 90-year-old ungrafted dry-grown vines from this historic single vineyard are low yielding, producing a depth of color, concentration of flavor, length and maturity of tannins unique to old-vine Shiraz. Mount Edelstone has achieved a formidable reputation since its first vintage in 1952. Deep crimson in color. Sweet ripe plum, anise and blueberry aromas with earthy/dusty hints, gentle ferny characters, spicy cedary oak and eucalypt. Sweet, juicy and ripe on the palate with a fleshy texture, good structure and depth, firm ripe tannins and a long rich finish.

Red Wine by Grant Burge from Barossa Valley, Australia. With Meshach I am seeking the epitome of the Barossa shiraz style - a big, powerful, intensely rich and robust dry red with the potential to age for 20-25 years and develop enormous complexity. I regard this as the most complete Meshach I have yet released. It shows great length and huge intensity on the mid-palate, with a dry finish but not any sign at all of harshness. Made from vines in Burge's Filsell Vineyard that are nearly 100 years old, this is one of Barossa's gems. In this warm vintage it's ripe and gooey, dense with delicious cherry pie, blackberry and licorice flavors that persist through a long, glorious finish. Has depth and presence, a real candidate for triumph after long-term cellaring. Best after 2011. -Wine Spectator

Red Wine by Yalumba from Barossa Valley, Australia. Yalumba The Octavius has established a reputation as one of Australia's icon Shiraz wines, an amazing feat considering the first release was the 1990 vintage. The 2002 vintage was exemplary. The weather remained mild and dry over the long ripening period - in fact the month of January experienced the lowest day temperatures on record. The end result was wines with great color, varietal flavors and intensity. Yalumba The Octavius Barossa Shiraz 2002 is vibrant deep ruby red in colour. Deep, dark, brooding aromas of plum, blackberry and chocolates are lifted by nuances of ground coffee, licorice, violets and cassis. Soft, velvety and sumptuous, the palate is a voluptuous concoction of blackberries, cherries, dark chocolates and creamy vanilla oak, all framed by tight knit tannins. The length is remarkable and the balance exceptional.

Red Wine by St. Hallett from Barossa Valley, Australia. An acknowledged icon of the Barossa, St. Hallett Old Block is an elegant and seamless Shiraz widely recognized as world class. It is derived purely from low cropping old vines of 60 to over 100 years of age. Color: Deep garnet red Bouquet: The bouquet is indicative of the 2003 vintage characteristics. The dry winter delivered forward powerful aromas with expectations of a concentrated palate to follow. The bouquet has coffee mocha notes and a particularly dense mineral core, finished by an atypical cherry raspberry lift. Palate: The hallmark of Old Block Shiraz is its elegance and while that is inherent, the 2003 vintage is showing a slightly atypical power in its youth. This will ultimately evolve to a supple yet assertive vinatge of this classic Barossa icon. Serving suggestions: Decant the wine 2-3 hours prior to serving. Excellent with rich venison or other game dishes, powerful reduction sauces and carmelized onions and parsnips. Cellaring: Will evolve over the next 12 years and will probably peak in 12-15 years

Red Wine by Three Rings from Barossa Valley, Australia. Vintage Comments: Classic Barossa vintage conditions. An average wet Spring followed by extreme heat in early February. Occasional rainfall events kept the vines in good balance up to harvest in late March 2004. Very good quality coupled with good average yields. More than 30 months in wood followed by six months tank maturation of the blend prior to bottling, July 2007. Tasting Notes: Rich, ripe complex Barossa floor Shiraz. Aromas of chocolate and Christmas cake intermingled with ulta-ripe red berry fruit, Blackberries and smoky notes from the oak maturation.

Red Wine by Torbreck from Barossa Valley, Australia. A blend of 44 year old Eden Valley Shiraz vines and 80 year old Barossa Shiraz, the Struie is aged for 18 months in a combination of old and new French oak barriques prior to bottling. Its dense color is accompanied by a fragrant bouquet comprising blackberry, pepper and licorice aromas, and a rich, silky mouth feel. The Struie greatly rewards those with the patience to carefully cellar it.

Red Wine by Peter Lehmann from Barossa Valley, Australia. 8 Songs for a Mad King - This wine (named after a production of The Eight Songs for a Mad King - the story of King George III) is a tribute to the old vine shiraz of the Barossa Valley which is the repository of some of the worlds oldest shiraz vines. The colour of this wine is very deep red purple with a black centre and reflects the density of the wine. Its bouquet is overwhelmingly rich with soft, dark berry fruit and well integrated French oak. On the palate it has wonderful rich shiraz flavours of dark berries and Barossa chocolate enveloped in fine grained oak with subtle tannins. Excellent with braised lamb shanks, rare beef, and richly flavoured casseroles and, of course, excellent with aged cheddar cheeses. 2002 was the coolest Barossa vintage on record. The reds are densely coloured with exceptional fruit concentration and structure. Very approachable now, and will continue to develop in the bottle over the next 8-10 years.

Red Wine by Kilikanoon from Barossa Valley, Australia. The 2005 Shiraz Testament, from the Barossa sub-regions of Greenock and Vine Vale, is more deeply colored and glass-coating than the Covenant. It offers up a fragrant perfume of smoke, game, violet, lavender, blueberry, and blackberry. Rounder and richer, it also has more grip and structure, with 6-8 years of aging potential. Drink this powerful Shiraz through 2025. Kilikanoon's winemaker is the talented Kevin Mitchell. The house specialty is Shiraz but Mitchell does equally well with Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grenache. - Wine Advocate

Red Wine by Two Hands from Barossa Valley, Australia. Lifted aromas of raspberries, spice,fennel, espresso and milk chocolate. The palate is very clean and fruit friendly, of medium body with firm but textured tannins. The acid and tannins balance the wine's red and dark cherry flavors. The wine has the ability to reward in the medium term, 5-8 years if cellared correctly.