Select parcels were fermented with a percentage of viognier grapes, other parcels were fermented with viognier juice. This has given a soft and stylish wine showing subtle viognier aromatics combined with the medium weight and structure of shiraz. Sourced from both Barossa Valley and Eden Valley shiraz vineyards, with an average age of 30-50 years. Small volumes of Eden Valley viognier were fermented with the shiraz. Smooth, silken and flooded with plums, cedar, vanilla and sweet jubey raspberries with just subtle whiffs of the florals of viognier. On the palate the wine shows rich black fruits with peppery spices, cloves and cardamon seeds, finishing with a lingering coffee anise texture.

Shiraz viognier blends are all the rage and it's hard to say they don't deserve the fuss, as there are many good ones, and not all are expensive. This is a lovely spicy, herbal, slightly vegetal but ripe red with tinges of licorice and anise in the palate. Features of the wine are its soft, fine-grained tannins and smoothly drinkable texture. There's a lot of fruit sweetness and its balance means you'll want to drink it right away. A few years ageing would certainly do it no harm. Best now to five-plus years. 14.5% per cent alcohol. 93/100. Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald - Good Living (Aus), 16 October 2007

This is one of the best, entry level SVs in Australia - partly due to Yalumba's incredible understanding of the viognier grape, and partly to the brutal pursuit of excellence which is an integral part of the Yalumba team make-up. Fresh, vibrant, berry fruit and pepper spice is topped off beautifully with exceptionally discreet viognier in this wine. Matthew Jukes & Tyson Stelzer, Taste Food & Wine 2008 (Aus), October 2007

Yalumba's pioneeering work with the Rhone white grape viognier over many years - let alone its historic success with shiraz - has left it well placed to make and market this fashionable red blend. Compared with straight shiraz, the 5 per cent viognier addition results in a slightly sweeter bouquet and flavour and a more open, forward and friendly nature. A fine example of the blend. Paddy Kendler, Herald Sun - City Style (Aus), 11 September 2007