2006 Yalumba Octavius Shiraz

In addition to being sourced from a number of very old vineyards in the Barossa, The Octavius is matured in American and French oak 'octaves' of approximately 100 litre capacity. Unconventional? Yes - in fact, it is the only red wine in the world that is matured in such small barrels. The risk is that the high surface area to wine ratio could quickly overpower the wine with oak derived flavours (eg. vanilla, coffee, aniseed, cloves), swamping the latent fruit and grape tannin.
According to Yalumba, the secret lies in the barrel's staves which are seasoned at Yalumba's own on-site cooperage for three to five years before the barrels are assembled. So despite being deluged with new oak, the flavour uptake remains in check, while producing a very distinctive end result. Totally opaque black dark crimson red colour with very deep dark crimson red black hue.
The nose exhibits a perfumed and complex array of aromatics with notes of ripe blackberry and liquorice intermixed with mocha, confectionary, vanilla and spice. Full bodied but neither heavy nor overbearing the palate displays exceptional concentration and depth with mouthfilling flavours of blackberry, liquorice and dark chocolate followed by some mocha, confectionary and spice. Velvet smooth texture and tannin structure with very long persistent aftertaste of blackberry, liquorice, mocha, vanilla and spice.
Cellar 8-10 years plus.
Alc 13.5%