2024 Yalumba - Shiraz Barossa Valley Samuel's Collection (750ml)

Yalumba traces its founding to 1849, when English brewer Samuel Smith emigrated to South Australia and planted the estate's first vines at Angaston, in the heart of the Barossa Valley. More than 170 years later, the winery remains under the direction of the same family, making it Australia's oldest continuously family-owned wine producer. The Samuel's Collection range takes its name directly from the founder, honoring his independent spirit and his commitment to the land that still shapes the winery's approach today.

This Shiraz draws on Barossa vineyards planted across a mix of soils, from red-brown earths to sandy loams and dark clay, with vines ranging from a youthful ten to fifteen years old up to more than thirty-five. Fermentation begins with the wild yeasts naturally present on the grape skins before cultured yeast finishes the job, a combination chosen to build color and texture. The wine then spends ten months maturing in French and Hungarian oak hogsheads, with a portion aged in new wood.

The glass shows a medium garnet hue, with aromas of blueberry, plum, and macerated berries layered over baking spice, jasmine, licorice, and dark chocolate, plus a whisper of pepper and earth. Full-bodied and fleshy on the palate, it finishes savory and long. Try it with grilled lamb, smoked brisket, or aged cheddar.