1997 Mystery Barossa Valley Shiraz Deal No. 6223

94 POINTS

James Halliday - Halliday Wine Companion

Medium red-purple; smooth raspberry and plum fruit is woven through controlled oak; the palate is filled with plum, cherry, mint and chocolate flavours, all in abundance, the tannins still softening.

93 POINTS

Jeremy Oliver

Concentrated aromas of ripe raspberries, blackberry jam and ripe dark plums are matched by polished and almost ethereal chocolate/mocha America oak aromas. Sumptuous and richly endowed with deep plummy fruit, the palate is creamy and slightly jammy, finishing with soft, fine tannins and slightly greenish, sappy acids.

92 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

The 1997 Stonewell Shiraz was matured in 64 percent new French oak and 36 percent new American – for 18 months. Whoa! Blistered with spearmint and musky, plum-like flavour – you have to get past that spearmint but for a wine from a lesser vintage this is in darn decent form. Fresh berried flavour and integrated oak, the odd note of flytox and sawdust just adding to the intrigue. Good show.