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  • Country ranking ?

    178
  • Producer ranking ?

    2
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    2020-2035
  • Food Pairing

    Lamb

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The Story

The first Old Block was created in 1980 by Barossa icon Robert O’Callaghan from a single vineyard planted in 1912. It soon outgrew the original block to become a representation of Old Vine Shiraz from the entire Barossa region, including the elevated Eden Valley.

With an average vine age of 88 years across its 30 vintage history, Old Block has always paid homage to the intensity, complexity and majesty of Old Vine fruit, well before it beca...

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

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Written Notes

The first-ever ‘serious’  red wine I bought was a 1998 St Hallett Faith Shiraz back in 2000. I had just turned 19 and was working in a bottle shop where I spent my days ogling old St Henri & early 90s Wynns Centenary. My misty-eyed recollections paint that Faith Shiraz as the best wine (up to that point) that I had ever tasted, and I can still remember the palate shape. Great memories. There will always be a soft spot for St Hallett in my heart as a result.

As for this new St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2016, it feels, well different. Much like the Blackwell, the style shift is palpable even if the DNA is typical Old Block. It feels more polished, but maybe a little too much so. Too new school for a proudly old school wine.

The bottle now comes with a full essay on the back and I like the detail – 51% Barossa Valley, 49% Eden Valley fruit. The average vine age is 92 years old, with nothing under 40 years old. pH 3.51, TA 6.7g/L for the anoraks.

Deep and decadent, it at least smells much more like the classic St Hallett mode. Deep, purple/red fruited, the oak a coffeed background shade, the palate ripe and blueberried, plush, round, and alcoholic. It’s not heavy, not hearty, more plush. Enjoyable too. But then it finishes tart, a bit warm and round.Generous, but a little simple too. I admire the length, the concentration, the Barossa black fruit core. This is indeed quality wine, hence the gold medal score. But I think I’ve loved previous vintages just a little bit more. Best drinking: now and for at least 15 years. 18.5/20, 94/100. $159.99, 14.6%. St Hallett website. Would I buy it? I can’t justify the price this year.the hug is a bit perfunctory.the hug is a bit perfunctory.

  • 94p
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Origin

Tanunda, Barossa Valley
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