2017 Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz

97 POINTS

Tyson Stelzer - Halliday's Wine Companion

Matured 18 months in 60% new French oak hogsheads. Lehmann's depth of reach into Barossa's finest sites is evident here, upholding the depth of style and greatness of its flagship, even in a cooler season. A magnificently full, vibrant purple hue, it's packed with compact, dense, crunchy, bright black fruits of all kinds, dressed in a gown of finely woven tannins. High-cocoa dark chocolate French oak has been perfectly tuned to the season. Integrity and persistence define great longevity.

94 POINTS

Nicole Bilson - winepilot.com

Incredible colour; dense, dark and staining the sides of the glass as you swirl. It smells like chocolate cake slathered with vanilla bean-scented ganache while plush blackberries and blackcurrants reveal themselves after a moment, alongside a delicate violet wisp. Still sprightly and youthful, the age shows up as just a hint of leather. In the mouth it is rich and silky, with more luscious dark chocolate grabbing the limelight ahead of blueberries and a eucalyptus-scented breeze. With partial barrel fermentation and 18 months in French oak, the oak is beautifully integrated, offering up light cedar and pouch tobacco complexity. There’s a lot going on here. In a beautiful way the intensity is balanced with a freshness and elegance rarely achieved in Barossa Shiraz.

92 POINTS

James Suckling

Savory nose, showing some smoked and chargrilled meat alongside black fruit and dried herbs. Medium to full body with velvety tannins. Showing lots of tangy freshness. Tasty olive and bitter chocolate notes at the end. Drink now or hold. Screw cap.

92 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Whenever I see a bottle of Stonewell, it takes me back to my formative years of wine appreciation, way back in the early 90s. Black fruit, cocoa and baking spices, a little truffle and mint, new leather and tar. It’s dense and thickly fruited, plenty of spicy oak, boysenberry and blood plum, some char and beef jerky flavour, gummy almost chalky tannin, and a slightly sappy and salty finish of solid depth and length.