The Limited Release Collection represent the finest selection of fruit from only exceptional vintages. But even the best wines from the best vintages can be subjective. In the 2020 Halliday Wine Companion, Master of Wine Ned Goodwin brings a fresh perspective on a couple of our big guns.
Ned Goodwin’s Review
2016 Carl Albert Shiraz (formally Moppa Block Shiraz)
A palate-staining, brooding wine of immense potential. This carpacious shiraz was basket-pressed to abundant oak transferring a riff of coffee grind, a whiff of vanilla and ample bitter chocolate to smoked meat barrel-ferment aromas. Dark bitter cherry, raspberry and damson plum lifted by a reductive clench of violet and an earthen note of ground spice from a varietal signpost of pepper, to clove, cardamom and Chinese five-spice. Far from over the top, this has the thrust of glycerol and the parry of freshness across the back-end. Rating 96 points.
2016 Limited Two Shiraz
This is a selection of the finest 2 barrels across the shiraz cuves, built for the long haul. Quintessentially Barossan across the density of dark fruit accents, dried and fresh. Bourbon to coconut Brylcreemed oak and an explosive tail of oak tannin, bitter chocolate and cherry bonbon notes exploding across the palate. Far from subtle but certainly well made. Rating 94 points.