Robert Oatley Limited Release Barossa Valley Shiraz 2018
The Collective Review
It's a question we've often pondered. What would happen if you took an elite winemaker, with a legacy and career of crafting wines in their home region, and placed them on the opposite side of the country to make wines in what one might consider more unfamiliar territory?
It's hard to imagine the remarkable talents of gun-for-hire winemaker Larry Cherubino being anything but capable wherever he lands his well-trodden boots. Yet, our curiosity was piqued when we learned of his partnership with Robert Oatley, taking him to the dazzling lights of Australia's winemaking Hollywood, better known as Shiraz country in the Barossa Valley.
In a very limited release, with only a handful of barrels produced, the Cherubino x Oatley x Barossa partnership has succinctly answered what talent can bring to the table in an unfamiliar land. Using premium, old-vine fruit from both Eden & Barossa, some up to 60 years of age, Cherubino has unveiled a potent, hypnotic, and decadently fragrant Shiraz designed for the long haul. A seamless balance, luminescent ruby fruit, and achingly delicate tannins greet you in this 2018 Barossa release. Low-toast, one-year-old French oak barrels let the fruit's expression shine through, while the low-yielding fruit adds a layer of depth without ever showcasing any of the region's tendency towards overt ripeness. This is a remarkable bottle that leans towards the elegant styles of Henschke or Spinifex, rather than the region's more robust producers.
The critics have been equally enamoured, showering it with a cascade of 97 and 96-point scores from Ken Gargett, Huon Hooke, and Wine Companion. If you've ever wondered what a godfather of Cabernet and Western Australian wines could achieve with Barossa Shiraz, this is your answer. A revelation so profound, you wouldn't hesitate to pay the asking price of $70 a bottle. At this price, a fraction of the RRP, it's time to stop pondering and start clicking the 'add to cart' button. This offering will disappear in a flash.
Always fascinating to compare the same wine from different vintages and the release of these two Barossa Shiraz, from 2017 and this one from 2018, allow us to do just that. As thoroughly impressive as the 2017 is, this wine wins hands down. But then, with 2018 such a superb vintage for the region, that is exactly what you’d expect. The sources of fruit for this wine, and the techniques employed by Larry Cherubino to make it, are the same for both vintages (a mix of vineyards from both the Barossa and Eden Valleys with vines ranging between twenty and sixty years of age, open fermented on skins for 4-6 weeks, and then aged in a mix of new and one-year-old tight-grained, low toast French oak barriques). The wine is black/purple in colour. There is a gloriously decadent nose, plush with black fruits, black olives and chocolate. Finely balanced with serious concentration, a joy now but if you have good cellaring conditions, twenty years will be a doddle. Seamless, with an ideal acid/fruit balance, velvety tannins and great length, this is a superb Shiraz from a top year. It just oozes chocolate and class. Read more
Critic Reviews
Always fascinating to compare the same wine from different vintages and the release of these two Barossa Shiraz, from 2017 and this one from 2018, allow us to do just that. As thoroughly impressive as the 2017 is, this wine wins hands down. But then, with 2018 such a superb vintage for the region, that is exactly what you’d expect. The sources of fruit for this wine, and the techniques employed by Larry Cherubino to make it, are the same for both vintages (a mix of vineyards from both the Barossa and Eden Valleys with vines ranging between twenty and sixty years of age, open fermented on skins for 4-6 weeks, and then aged in a mix of new and one-year-old tight-grained, low toast French oak barriques). The wine is black/purple in colour. There is a gloriously decadent nose, plush with black fruits, black olives and chocolate. Finely balanced with serious concentration, a joy now but if you have good cellaring conditions, twenty years will be a doddle. Seamless, with an ideal acid/fruit balance, velvety tannins and great length, this is a superb Shiraz from a top year. It just oozes chocolate and class.
The fruit for this refined example of Barossa shiraz from a marvelous vintage has come from a number of low-yielding sites in the Barossa and Eden Valleys. It would seem the cooler Eden Valley has contributed to the overall structure and graceful lines of the shiraz, while taking nothing from the traditional flavour profile that is Barossa. The wine went through largely traditional winemaking before heading into 12 months of low toast and significantly, very fine-grained French oak. Rich and lavish palate held with a fine focus as it extended effortlessly to a very long finish. This has great ageing potential.
Very deep, youthful, rich red/purple colour and a similarly rich, ripe, layered bouquet of dark plum, pepper-spice, blackberry and dark chocolate, with a high note of oyster-shell. Full-bodied, decadently rich and supple in the mouth, the texture sliding gloriously across the palate. Long, harmonious follow-through. A totally delicious shiraz.
Larry Cherubino heads to the Barossa and Eden Valleys to source fruit for this deeply flavoured, limited-release wine. Glossy and elegant, the wine resonates with ripe satsuma plum, blackberry fruits and classy French oak nuance. The Barossa Valley provides the richness and horsepower and the cooler Eden Valley the graceful line. Tight fine tannin and drive. A wonderfully balanced and textural release.
Technical Attributes
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![Producer]()
Producer: Robert Oatley Vineyards
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![Varietal]()
Varietal: Shiraz
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![Region]()
Region: Barossa
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![Alcohol]()
Alcohol: 14.5%
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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: Robert Oatley Vineyards
Varietal: Shiraz
Region: Barossa
Alcohol: 14.5%
Net volume: 750ml
Vintage: 2018
Cellar until 2035
Tasting Notes
Full-bodied, richly textured, densely flavoured.
Winemakers Note
Crafted by the esteemed Larry Cherubino, this Shiraz hails from the iconic Barossa region, encompassing both the Barossa and Eden Valleys. The vineyards, with vines aging between 20 to 60 years, yield the grapes that are meticulously harvested by hand. This exceptional regional blend is the result of selecting low-yielding sites, where the grapes are open fermented on skins for 4 to 6 weeks. Following fermentation, the wine is aged for twelve months in both new and 1-year-old tight-grained low toast French oak barriques. This careful aging process, combined with a rigorous barrel selection, culminates in the ultimate expression of Barossa Shiraz. The wine, bottled on December 17, 2019, is designed to be cellared for 15 years or more, promising a remarkable evolution for those who have the patience to wait.
Customer Reviews
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