Curator Seppeltsfield Shiraz 2022

From vines planted in the 1950’s, a single vineyard. 18% whole bunches, the rest whole berries, wild fermented and basket pressed to French oak, 15% new for 18 months. It’s defiantly Barossa, and a totally different expression to the Marananga, as it’s supposed to be. More red fruited, with cherries, stewed plum, blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant. Full bodied, yet the fruit seems tangier, and the savoury elements of compost, bay leaf, dark chocolate, florals and baking spices, are more prominent. The tannins are fiercer, more European and the shape is a little edgier. Quite different from the curvy, voluptuous smoothness of the Marananga. Preference? No idea! Just amazing wine, a great set and a total bargain.

For me, this is the absolute star of the range, among some serious competition. A near opaque maroon hue here, the aromas swirl around giving us characters reminiscent of plush new leather, chocolate, tar, mocha, ripe plums, graphite, licorice, bay leaves and blueberries. A creamy texture leading to fine, supple tannins, this is a wine of great length which never waivers in intensity. A twenty year proposition. Just gorgeous. 97 points, Wine Pilot

Deep magenta/purple with aromas of ripe satsuma plum, blueberry and boysenberry fruits. Hints of baking spices, clove, bay leaf, olive tapenade, dark chocolate, cedar, licorice, violets and earth. Full bodied yet there is a lightness to its footfall on the palate. Some nice detail, too, with powdery tannin support, just a hint of something ferruginous in the background and a savoury shape at the tail, finishing with spice, plums and stone. 95 Points, Halliday Wine Companion