2017 Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz

Brand	Yalumba
Region	Barossa Eden Valley
Varietal	Shiraz
Size	750ml
Alcohol %	14.5%
Vintage	2017
Country	Australia
Vegan
Vegetarian

Octavius is the finest Prestige single variety Shiraz Yalumba make, only trumped in the hierarchy by the infrequently made Reserve and lately, The Caley (both Cabernet Shiraz blends). Made in only the finest years since 1990, Octavius has morphed into an amazingly fine Shiraz over the years, this 2017 vintage following in the finest tradition of the Hill-Smith family. Finest old-vine vineyard fruit is matured for 23 months in 100-litre French and American-oak octaves (staves are air dried for 5-years before use) crafted by Yalumba’s own in-house coopers. Yalumba Octavius is decadent, yet elegant and soulful in its youth… but has the gravitas to cellar for 20-30 years with ease if properly stored. If you were thinking of putting a flagship Prestige red wine away to mark a milestone in 20-30 years… Octavius would be perfect!!

Dark, brooding nose showing cedar, dark chocolate, Xmas cake, plum, cassis and boysenberry. A hint of new leather too for good measure.

Luxurious, liquorice flavours flood the fiercely concentrated palate, the wave of dark fruit giving way to plush pillowy tannins that guide the long finish. Quite a refined and measured Octavius this year, it looks like one of the greats already as it balances its effortless power with a refreshing refinement.