YALUMBA THE OCTAVIUS SHIRAZ 2018

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.

Sourced 69% Eden Valley and 31% Barossa Valley fruit with an average vine age of 111 years, the Octavius is one of Australia's iconic Shiraz. The style has evolved – no longer is 'oaktavius' appropriate. Whilst the small oak 'octaves' are used for fermentation, there is much less American oak​ along with the realisation that the fruit needs to be of the quality and concentration to absorb the oak. This is everything you'd expect from top quality Barossa Shiraz (without the exorbitant price tag). Whilst not cheap, in context this represents great value. There is complexity plus; with layers of flavours – tick, balance – tick, concentration – tick, deliciousness – tick.

Winery notes (2018 Vintage)
"A flagship Shiraz born of treasured, old vines dating back to 1854, these are some of the oldest Shiraz plantings in the world. Matured in Yalumba coopered oak octaves; the inspiration behind the name of this fine, Barossa wine.

Deep red in colour with purple hues. Alluring aromas of dark red cherries, red licorice and red raspberries. Aromatically, this is a distinctive wine with red, blue and violet fruits. Everything combines on the palate to give generous, cool, rich flavours, combining the freshness of Eden Valley with the depth of Barossa Valley. Perfectly balanced, elegant and quite simply a beautiful expression of Barossa Shiraz.

Fruit for this wine is sourced from six vineyards across the Barossa, the oldest parcel of Shiraz is gently hand-picked from Eden Valley vines planted in 1854. With an average vine age of 111 years, 69% of this Shiraz is sourced from Eden Valley and 31% from the Barossa Valley. Eden Valley Shiraz provides the exotic aromatics and seamless palate structure while Barossa Valley Shiraz provides richness, density and concentration. Matured for 21 months in 25% new French oak barriques and hogsheads, balance in 1 year and older French octaves, barriques and hogsheads."

97/100 Georgina Hindle, Decanter, February 2024 (2018 Vintage)
"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."

96+/100 Erin Larkin, RobertParker.com, Wine Advocate, August 2023 (2018 Vintage)
"The first bottle of 2018 The Octavius was corked. I have opened the second bottle for review. Coffee grounds, dark chocolate, mulberry compote and black olive tapenade lead the charge for this irrepressibly Australian Shiraz. Big bold forest berry flavors are effusive and almost gushing, held in check by the firm hand of tannic structure. Woodsy spices—sandalwood, particularly—punctuate the black cherry and salted licorice characters. This is really good, satisfying, mouthfilling, delicious. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork."

96/100 Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, March 2023 (2018 Vintage)
"Very mellow, soft, round and dark fruited with gentle woody spices, some old leather notes, mahogany, dark chocolate all molten over stewed plums, figs, hazelnut. So much going on in scents and flavours. Very warming, concentrated but without overtness and boot polish potency. It’s got immense charm, wonderful balance, palate-staining characters and all of it even and good. A touch breathy through the finish would be the quibble, but it sits well in the wine, you could say. Lush and lovely and luxe."

17/20 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, May 2024 (2018 Vintage)
"Deep ruby with bricky rim. Sweet, dark-red fruit and sweet tobacco on the nose. Firm, chewy tannins and surprisingly fresh. Mouth-filling and velvet-textured on the finish. Generous, smooth, pure Shiraz."