Dense deep purple-crimson; a sumptuously rich cascade of black fruits and some Christmas cake spices, yet miraculously retains elegance thanks to restraint in winemaking. Oh for a screwcap. 14.5º alc. Drink 2026 $45 Date Tasted Feb 08 Rating: 96 Points; James Halliday Wine Companion 2009
 
The Turkey Flat Vineyard boasts some of the oldest Shiraz vines in the world. Planted in 1847, these hard-working gnarled old vines are still producing fantastic grapes. They are dry grown with their roots extending metres into the soil in search of moisture. Much of the credit for the best Shiraz made in the Barossa is due to old vines such as these. The fact that these vines still exist is largely due to a far-sighted quarantine scheme, in which South Australia was spared the phylloxera outbreak which devastated the vineyards of Europe, America and subsequently parts of Australia in the late 1800’s.
 
The 2006 vintage was mild and long. We managed to escape serious heat waves to achieve a slow long ripening period. This produced wines that are floral, elegant and well structured. Cold soaking and extended time on skins has resulted in a firm tannin structure ensuring that this wine will improve with careful cellaring of up to 10 years. 22 months maturation in new & seasoned French oak hogsheads. The colour is deep purple, the nose shows dark berry fruits, plum, tobacco & black pepper. The palate has restrained fruit character with underlying richness, persistent & with flavours of blackcurrant, plums, dark bitter chocolate & cedar with a fine, grape tannin finish. Cellar - up to 10 years. Alcohol - 14.5% Turkey Flat
 
This wine is the darling of Australian - read Barossa Valley - Shiraz. It is, and always has been, more about elegance than power, more about richness and complexity than simplicity and always about incredible value. It is probably best summed up by one of its biggest fans in James Halliday who wrote "I simply don't understand why this wine, made from some of the oldest shiraz vines in the world (dating back to 1847) continues to be available at $45. So long as it is, it has a permanent position in the Top 100". Given a 96-point rating for the latest vintage 2006, you can bet your bottom dollar it will again be in this years James Halliday Top 100 – the only wine virtually guaranteed a place in this influential list. Once again this year, despite prices climbing around it, $39.99 will again get a piece of this beauty.
 
While the Barossa has more than its fair share of super premium Shiraz, just three remain in my 'must-buy' list each year. The Penfolds St Henri Shiraz (currently 2004 vintage), the Rockford Basket Press Shiraz (currently 2005 vintage) and the Turkey Flat Barossa Shiraz 2006 which despite sitting comfortably in the same quality bracket, weighs in respectively at about half and one-third the retail price.
 
The 2006 is like a greatest hits album featuring the best of the last 10 vintages of this stellar wine. It is simply a brilliant example of old-vine Barossa Shiraz that expresses elegance as well as power. The nose is all about spicy fruit roll biscuits, toffee, licorice and stewed raisin. These bright and spicy characters continue in the mouth with lovely dark fruit sweetness and impeccable balance. Despite the power and concentration of fruit, the structure makes it approachable although the fine grained tannins create the vehicle for a long journey that the wine needs to do it real justice. A decade is a conservative estimate, two decades not out of the question. A comfortable 'exceptional' rating, and the annual shake of the head of the head for the brilliantly low price despite the obvious quality and miniscule production. Drink: Now-2020. Quality: Exceptional – BW; WineStar© August 2008