2021 O'Leary Walker Clare Valley Shiraz

96 POINTS

London International Wine Show

Very pronounced floral and herbal aromas on the nose. Good concentration of black fruit, plum, dark chocolate, blueberry, floral notes with good finish. Trophy Winner Best Shiraz in Show.

96 POINTS

Ken Gargett - WinePilot.com

This superb Clare Valley Shiraz, which has been racking up the bling as they say in the classics, was sourced from two of the region’s top sub-regions, Armagh and Polish Hill River, with each parcel fermented discretely. Maturation was for two years in French oak, a quarter of it new. Helps to come from such a stellar vintage. Gosh, this is an impressive wine. It drinks more impressively than many wines two or three times the price and will surely be in any conversation for best value wine of the year. Deep maroon hue, this offers such a seductively appealing nose. There is early complexity already evident. Aromas of dried herbs, chocolate, cloves, aniseed, soy, coffee beans, blueberries and black fruits. The oak is immaculately integrated and the wine is seamless, supple and with such silky tannins. This will help redefine the Clare Valley as one of the great regions for Aussie Shiraz. Impeccably balanced, a fine line of acidity, bright energy, very impressive length, this wine has everything. Wonderful stuff. Ten to fifteen years ahead of it. I see suggestions that one should attempt to refrain from drinking it now. Good luck with that. Love it.

96 POINTS

Jeni Port - winepilot.com

The vinous equivalent of yin and yang, with two noteworthy Clare Valley sub-regions singing in total harmony. Polish Hill River is spicy and fine, while Armagh brings the brio and power. It makes for a dynamic duo. Bright, deep purple in colour. Violet, acacia, briar, wild bramble, blackberry and blackstrap liquorice aromas delight, so inviting in their deep mix of fruit, spice, florals and earth. Brings that upfront spice, liquorice and black fruit intensity and energy associated with top Clare Valley Shiraz and then, without skipping a beat, maintains the momentum seamlessly through to a long, long finish. Oak and tannins are totally integrated. It’s in for a long life should you resist the temptation to drink now. There is an effortless quality here, the sign of a good year and some mighty good winemaking. Outstanding.

93 POINTS

Stuart Knox - The Real Review

Deep ruby with purple tints into the rim. Blood plum, bay leaf and clove aromatics. Full in weight and intensity, with dark berries, purple florals and exotic dark spices all filling the senses as it rolls long and deep across the palate. Tannins have a fine gravelly nature, accentuating the power.