Top 5 Wines Rated by Spitbucket : 29 JUL - 04 AUG 2011

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St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2008

Country: Australia
Price: $69
Region: Barossa Valley
Winery Name: St Hallett
Variety:
Shiraz
Vintage: 2008
Score: 94 points

Tasting Date:

29th Jun 2011

Tasting Note:

This is the St H's big gun, but sometimes a curious wine. Always good, sometimes it is overshadowed by the 'flagships' from other Barossa producers and sometimes even by wines like St H's own Blackwell one suspects that a little part of this has been getting the oak right and that perhaps alcohol levels have been a smidge higher than best suits the wine. Other times, it is terrific (and recent vintages suggest it is firmly bang on track). So always exciting to see a new release to see where it fits in, though in all honesty, these days, it is close to a given that the Old Block will be a seriously good wine.

Worth noting that since the 2002 vintage, all of the wines have seen 100% French oak.

All vineyards are at least 60 years old, some going back as far as the 1850's (what was the world doing back then?). A not insignificant contribution is made from a vineyard at Moculta, planted in 1906. Production is usually 700 to 1,800 cases, depending on vintage conditions. In 2008, it sat somewhere around the 1,300 to 1,400 cases.

This release has depth, concentration, power. There is oak, but it is not excessive, and will no doubt continue to integrate over time. Alcohol is under 14%, which surely sets it apart from some of those past vintages.

This is nicely balanced. There are flavours of black fruits, chocolate, mushrooms and some spice. Very soft tannins. Good length. Impressive. There is a touch of nutmeg, no doubt from the oak.

This vintage has excellent potential to improve.

One suspects that, as good as this wine is, the 2009 vintage night just be a vintage that better suits Old Block.

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