2018 Mystery Barossa Shiraz Deal No. 47
The Collective Review
This is the top-of-the-line Shiraz, for this revered producer and boy, what a beast of a thing it is. Monumental. Weighty. A seismic jolt is felt when the hefty bottle hits the table. All up, this is the big deal. The top-end of town. The power-suit-wearing Barossa Shiraz is ready to tackle M & A's, overthrow governments or break bread with the very high echelons of society. If you're looking for a statement piece, this wine is for you.
Sourced from this estate home vineyard high in the Eden Valley at 475 metres above sea level. Planted by Pastor Franz Julius Lehmann in 1932, the low-yielding, gnarled vines are some of the oldest in the region. Only the best barrels make their way into this classic Shiraz, and the new release shows again why the old-vine fruit of the Eden Valley is so highly sought after.
Gloriously rich and opulent within a sturdy structured frame, the wine shows blackberry, cake spice, charcuterie, cedar and mocha characters on the nose. The palate exhibits power as well as refinement, offering terrific depth and intensity with velvety-smooth mouthfeel and seamlessly infused powdery tannins, making it immensely delicious and gratifying. Read more
Critic Reviews
Gloriously rich and opulent within a sturdy structured frame, the wine shows blackberry, cake spice, charcuterie, cedar and mocha characters on the nose. The palate exhibits power as well as refinement, offering terrific depth and intensity with velvety-smooth mouthfeel and seamlessly infused powdery tannins, making it immensely delicious and gratifying.
"...This is a real powerhouse in every way. Plenty of fruit, alcohol and oak. In fact 40 months in 60% new French oak which was air dried and immersion bent with a very tight grain. It means the oak take-up is not as dominant as with coarse grained oaks. Lots of dark red fruit seamlessly woven into the palate. Spicy blackberry plus roasted coffee and mocha characters scream Barossa and Eden Valley."
"...Dripping with longevity, it comes in a big, weighty bottle with a cork and wax seal as well as the heft to match. Watching this open up over a few days was quite the treat. The usual suspects combine - dark berry fruits and plums plus some coffee grounds, cloves and cedar. Dark chocolate and chocolate brownie add detail. Given it spent 40 months in French oak, the impact was clear. It holds its shape impeccably and continues to soften with all elements fusing the more I peruse. Melted chocolate feels have me hooked. Delicate spices curl around the mouth but the length and the precision deserves nothing but praise. Superb! Drink to ten years+."
"This is a blend of Shiraz from both the Eden Valley and the Barossa. For anyone thinking that means not quite one thing or another, I would suggest that they think best of both worlds. This is a stunningly rich Shiraz, glorious now and certain to drink beautifully for a couple of decades..." "Inky black purple hue. This is a big, bold chocolatey generous Shiraz. If you like those beautiful and powerful Barossa Shiraz, you will absolutely love this. Plenty of dark berries, cassis, leather, mocha, plums, coffee bean and chocolate notes. Lashings of oak but it is well integrated and the wine is nicely balanced. Still very youthful but what a future – ten to twenty years. The palate exhibits more of an aniseed note with a soft, creamy texture, pillowy tannins and great length. A cracker..."
Incredibly intense wafts of licorice, incense, black plums and raspberries arrest the nose. Christmas cake spices are all there too. On the palate it's incredibly dense and intense, suggesting very small yields from ancient vines. There's ample oak here but the fruit intensity can handle this high level. Its fiery core is contained with pleasing inky tannins and the length is impressive. This is a flavour bomb: lovers of full-throttle Barossa shiraz will worship this, but its heat on the finish detracts from the wine and cautions a second sip
Technical Attributes
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![Producer]()
Producer: Mystery
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![Varietal]()
Varietal: Shiraz
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![Region]()
Region: Barossa
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![Alcohol]()
Alcohol: 15.2%
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![Net volume]()
Net volume: 750ml
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![Vintage]()
Vintage: 2018
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![Cellar to]()
Cellar until 2035
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Style GuideLight Intense
Producer: Mystery
Varietal: Shiraz
Region: Barossa
Alcohol: 15.2%
Net volume: 750ml
Vintage: 2018
Cellar until 2035
Tasting Notes
Deep inky magenta with a purple hue. The aroma is magnificently fruited and gloriously expressed on the nose showing blackberry, spiced plum, chocolate tart, cake spice and cedar characters. A sumptuous palate that is opulent and impressively weighted. The wine is powerfully graceful, with a seamless flow to an impressively long, engaging finish.
Winemakers Note
This flagship Shiraz stands as a testament to the storied viticulture of the Barossa and Eden Valleys. This exceptional Shiraz is meticulously crafted from fruit sourced from low-yielding, hand-pruned vineyards dating back to the 1930s, marking these vines among the oldest and most revered in the region.
It is a culmination of a rigorous selection process, where only the finest barrels are chosen to showcase the unparalleled quality of old-vine fruit from the Barossa and Eden Valleys. This dedication to excellence is evident in the wine's complex profile, which harmoniously balances richness and sophistication.
Aged for 40 months in fine-grained French oak, the wine achieves a refined structure and tannins that complement, rather than overshadow, the inherent fruit complexity. This careful aging process ensures that this top-shelf red delivers an elegant, yet powerful expression of Shiraz, embodying the highly sought-after characteristics of its storied origins.