1993 Yalumba Octavius Shiraz

Yalumba created quite a storm when this wine was first released in the late 1980's, and the point of departure was the use of Missouri oak casks - made by the Yalumba coopers, from very mature oak timber that had apparently been forgotten. Moreover, the size of the barrels was much smaller than the standard Bordeaux 220 litre barrique. The size of the barrel was an octave (between 90 and 100) litres and this had the effect of a more pronounced wood influence, but still in perfect balance to the massively ripe shiraz fruit.Opaque crimson colour. The nose is quite superb with aromas of ripe plum, blackberry, smoky oak, spice and a good dose of liquorice. The palate is very generous in its flavour and texture. Ripe blackberries are overlaid by black pepper and liquorice flavours which dominate the smoky vanillin oak.