GOLCONDA SHIRAZ 2022

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"James and Edward Macdonald share a deep connection with South Australia. Golconda takes its names from their great-great-grandfather’s paddle steamer, which once plied the waters of the River Murray.

Sourced from two select vineyards in the Greenock and Moppa sub-regions of the renowned Barossa Valley, this Shiraz was basket pressed and matured for 24 months in a mix of French and American oak prior to bottling.

The 2022 vintage displays a deep crimson core with vibrant purple hues. Aromas of ripe blackberry and dark plum intertwine with sweet oak and a touch of dark liquorice. The palate is rich, full-bodied, and smooth, delivering layers of black fruit and dark chocolate, finishing long with firm, structured tannins."

18/20 Joelle Thomson, September 2025 (2022 Vintage)
"The first swirl of the 2022 Golconda Shiraz tastes like walking through a vineyard in the Barossa Valley where deep colours and strong aromas land in each compelling sip of this dark crimson hued wine with its flavours of ripe blackberries and fleshy plums, framed by smooth tannins and toasted oak gained from maturation in French and American oak for 24 months. Gentle sloping vineyards planted between 320 and 340 metres above sea level are home to the 20+ year old vines that grew the grapes to make this wine. Those vineyards are in Greenock and Moppa. The wine is made in homage to James and Edward Macdonald's great-great-grandfather’s paddle steamer, the Golconda, which once plied the waters of the River Murray."

Rated Excellent & 93/100 Cameron Douglas MS, July 2025 (2022 Vintage)
"Smoky, ripe, dark fruited and complex. Aromas and flavours of ripe blackcurrant and dark plums, baked raspberry, chocolate and licorice. Toasty barrel and spiced wood tone. Dry with layers of tannins and acidity, a core of dark red fruit flavours reflective of the bouquet, some peppery moments and taut, youthful palate squeeze. A lovely wine with best drinking from 2025 through 2032."

5 Stars & 93/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, August 2025 (2022 Vintage)
"Richly fruited and fragrant, the wine exhibits aromas of blackberry, baking spice, cedar, and dark chocolate on the nose. It's succulent and supple in the mouth, delivering excellent weight and intensity, splendidly framed by silky texture and fine tannins, finishing long and flavoursome. At its best: now to 2030."

92/100 Sammy Wilkinson, The Wine Writer, September 2025 (2022 Vintage)
"Dark and intense, with layers of blackcurrant, black cherry and black raspberry lifted by a lick of menthol. Dark chocolate and espresso add depth to a rich, inviting nose. The palate bursts with sweet black fruit, chocolate and a cool mint-choc-chip edge, rounded out by baking spice and sweet pepper. Full-bodied with grippy tannins and soft acidity, finishing long and warming. Fire up the BBQ and get this in your mates’ glasses – they’ll thank you for it."