This is a smoky, malty wine with rich plum, peppercorn, toast, hazelnut and sandalwood characters purring thorough the palate. It’s both grunty and soft, with firm-but-integrated tannin leading the way through a smoky, bacon-like, coffeed finish. It’s substantial but it’s neat; it’s hefty but there’s genuine breadth to the flavours. This should be at its best in the medium term. 93+ Points: 93/100
From the 2.3ha Block 12, a southeast-facing sand and ironstone outcrop; 20% whole bunch, with 80% sorted and crushed; matured in 2500L French and Austrian oak for 16 months. This opens with a little reductive cloak, which is appealing in itself, if a little occluding of the fruit. Initially at least. There’s a Rhône-like feel, with a spicy, smoky angle. Fruit flavours roll through blackberry pastille, blueberry, tart boysenberry and black cherry, accented with malted barley, rolling tobacco, roasted meat, freshly ground coffee, star anise, cassia and allspice. There’s an underlying finesse here, as with all the '23s, both red and white. Excellent. Points: 96/100
The 2023 Shiraz King's Wood is a more gently framed expression under this label, with cola, dried meat and clove aromas with a subtle dusting of celery salt. Young and tightly bound, the oak is a little heavy-handed for the underlying fruit ripeness, which tightens up on the finish. Points: 91/100
