YALUMBA THE STEEPLE SHIRAZ 2021

Drawn from a distinguished vineyard in the hamlet of Light Pass, The Steeple Shiraz is a true single vineyard wine. This wine is from biodynamically grown, low yielding centenarian vines planted in 1919. In the shadow of the Light Pass Immanuel Lutheran Church Steeple, the roots of these old vines run deep into the ancient Barossa soils, yielding intensely flavoured Shiraz grapes to create a wine of richness, texture, concentration and length.

Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"Sourced from Yalumba’s Steeple vineyard at Light Pass on the Barossa Valley floor, this old block of Shiraz was planted in 1919 on its own roots in fine, sandy loam and red-brown earth. This soil is well drained and consists of a marked contrast in texture between the surface soil and the subsoil. The 1.34 hectare vineyard sits at an elevation of 280 metres above sea level. The old vines, planted at three metre spacings, are trained with four rods on two wires which ensures an even distribution of bunches along the trellis.

Matured for 16 months in 15% new Tonnellerie Sylvain ‘Artistic Series’ barriques made from a 365 year old oak tree, balance in older Tonnellerie Sylvain ‘Artistic Series’ barriques.

A brooding, deep red in colour. The aromas are an opulent mix of potpourri and red berries. Generous fruit flavours of cranberry, redcurrant and dark red cherries on the palate are supported with red fruit sweetness and long, flowing tannins. This is a wine of great balance, style and exceptional varietal characteristics."

97/100 Ken Gargett, WinePilot.com, May 2025 (2021 Vintage)
"Anyone who ever saw Darren Lockyer or David Campese slice through an opposition backline, Wayne Gretzky on ice or Michael Jordan on a basketball court, will understand the concept of gliding. This supple and sleek texture, with its silky tannins, is the vinous equivalent, gliding effortlessly to a very long finish. From a stellar vintage, this is a single vineyard wine hailing from the sub-region of Light Pass. The vines, biodynamically grown, were planted back in 1919. Fair to say, much can be expected. And much is delivered. A wild ferment before the wine spent sixteen months in oak, 15% of which new, termed the Tonnellerie Sylvain ‘Artistic Series’ barriques. They were made from a 365 year old oak tree (not completely sure that if I was the marketing team, I’d be promoting chopping up such a venerable old oak tree, but we can say that its demise was not in vain).

The wine has a black cherry hue, with a wonderfully enticing nose, which just screams first class Barossa Shiraz. Full of dark berries, chocolate, roast meats, cassis, bay leaves, sage and mocha, the texture is plush in the extreme. Excellent oak integration (thankfully), there is a supple texture here and immaculate balance. Silky tannins, seriously good length and intensity maintained for the full journey, this is simply delicious, although it surely has at least fifteen years ahead of it. Notes of graphite are more prevalent on the palate. It seems that this wine often takes a backseat to some of the others in the portfolio, which seems criminally unfair. This is a gem."