Appearance
Deep red purple.
Bouquet
Highly perfumed nose of white pepper, spice and abundant black and red fruits leading to slightly sappy whole bunch notes.
Palate
Medium bodied palate, with savoury dark berry fruit characters, licorice, spice and white pepper notes. Ripe tannins and well-integrated French oak. Balanced acidity, and a long savoury finish.
Conclusion
Highly enjoyable now, or cellar over the next 5 to 15 years.
AWARDS
2018 Victorian Wine Show
REVIEWS & RATINGS
95 points, James Halliday - Halliday Wine Companion 2020 - 'Hand-picked, wild yeast fermented in small open vats with 15% whole bunches, matured in French barriques (30% new) for 16 months. Oakdene has decided to go for it in this spectacular vintage, and has got off to a flying start with this sumptuous wine. Picked at a modest baume level, it has the power more commonly found in the Barossa or Eden Valley at 14.5%-15% alcohol. This also has fine-grained tannins in best cool climate style.'
4.5 stars - Winestate Magazine, September / October 2019 - 'Peppery, spicy and chocolaty on the nose with a thread of plum fruit. Rich, beautifully structured palate with lifted violet/plum fruit, velvety tannins and good acidity'.
Toni Patterson, The Real Review, 93 points - Bright mid-red colour. An engaging wine with an alluring fragrance of pink peppercorns and cranberries. The palate is spicy and medium-weight with pimento, crushed herbs and a gorgeous lemony finish. It has beautiful energy and brightness. A unique and engaging style. Drink 2019 - 2024
Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 93 points - Deep, dark red/purple/black colour, with a smoky, peppery, char-oak and spice nose, which has a background hint of reduction. The wine is big and juicy, rich and fruit-sweet, with lovely ripe fruit flavours and amplitude. A very smart cool-climate syrah style, with a touch of graphite on the finish. Impressive stuff. Drink 2019 - 2032
Gary Walsh, The Winefront, 93 points- You’d rarely be called William in Australia. G’day Bill. I know, I get Gazza and all kinds of things. Thank heavens quite a few people just call me ‘GW’.
Smells great. Meaty, spicy, peppery, mainly dark fruited Shiraz here, with maybe a bit of chocolate. Medium-bodied, spicy, grilled meat, red berries in the mix, a bit of sap, lovely acidity, richness but restraint, smooth dense tannin, and full on charm. It’s let down a little by its somewhat diffuse finish, just needs a bit more oomph and tightening of the nuts, otherwise most excellent. Some chicory-like bitterness in the aftertaste.
