Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz 2018

A flagship Shiraz born of treasured, old vines dating back to 1854, these are some of the oldest Shiraz plantings in the world. Matured for 23 months in 30% new French oak barriques and balances in Yalumba coopered American oak octaves, French barriques and hogsheads.

The Octavius has an alluring perfume of spice, fresh red cherry blossom, blueberries, blackberries and dark plums entwined in bitter cocoa. A deliciously complex palate with textural concentration and a rich core of currants, blue and black fruit.

Critics thoughts - Medium deep crimson. Magnificent pure blackberry blackberry dark chocolate aromas with vanilla roasted chestnut notes. Beautifully concentrated and inky deep with beautiful pure dark berry fruits fine slinky animated tannins and perfectly integrated new mocha, vanilla oak.  Finishes classically firm with superb mineral length. Very seductive and impressive with a beautiful scent of place. Wonderful fruit definition, purity and precision with the density and torque for long term aging. Almost perfect symmetry. Drink 2028 - 2050.  99 points The Vintage Journal,

Fragranced and aromatically complex on the nose - beguiling and totally captivating red berries, clove, vanilla, liquorice and wild herbs. This has an inky density to it, weighty and fully textured but with amazing purity of fruit. Bright and piercing acidity adds to the overall expression with tannins that are refined yet carry a sense of opulence and seduction. Clean and sleek, wide, full and mouthwatering with liquorice, cherry blossom and strawberry fruit all the way through. Delicious.  97 points Decanter

Waves of charred sandalwood, white pepper, sage, liqourice root, juicy black fruits and balanced acidities giving plenty of freshness and a slow burn finish. You can already see just how slowly this wine ages, as even at 5 years old it is still very much in its primary phase, with muscular tannins that are confidently keeping everything in line. The fruit sourcing also reflects the drive towards fresher expression in what was a warm vintage, with 69% Eden Valley and 31% Barossa. Expertly navigated, picked a little earlier than many in the region. First vintage on the Place for this wonderful Shiraz. Ageing in 25% Yalumba coopered American octaves, 25% new French hogsheads, 6% Hungarian hogsheads. Winemaker Kevin Glastonbury, harvest February 15 to April 10. Hold +2 years or carafe 4 hours.  97 points Jane Anson

So it is with great joy that I can reveal that 2018 The Octavius is a stellar wine, worthy of its name, nodding to the past but striding with the utmost confidence into the future. It is heroic but not showy, dramatic but not theatrical and profound but not introverted. The fruit is tempered, and the carpentry, from whence it derives its unusual name, is entirely harmonious serving to heighten the kaleidoscope of flavours instead of straight-jacketing them. 2018 is a triumphant vintage of The Octavius, and it seems fitting that this wine announces Yalumba’s arrival on the world stage. I do not doubt that this wine will receive a standing ovation when a worldwide audience has the chance to taste it. 19+/20.  Matthew Jukes