Yalumba was founded in 1849 by Samuel Smith, British migrant and English brewer, who had brought his family to Angaston seeking a new life. After purchasing a 30-acre parcel of land just beyond the southern-eastern boundary of Angaston, Smith and his son began planting the first vines by moonlight. Samuel named his patch "Yalumba" – aboriginal for "all the land around". Five generations and 160 years later Yalumba, Australia's oldest family owned winery, has grown in sizeand stature, embodying all that has made the Australian wine success story the envy of winemakers the world over.

Yalumba The Octavius has established a reputation as one of Australia's icon Shiraz wines, an amazing feat considering the first release was the 1990 vintage. In addition to being sourced from a number of very old vineyards in the Barossa, The Octavius is matured in American and French oak 'octaves' of 100 litre capacity. It is the only red wine in the world that is matured in such small barrels. The secret of the wine not becoming overpowered by the oak lies in the wood which is seasoned at Yalumba's own on-site cooperage for three to five years before the octaves are crafted. Yalumba is one of a select few wineries in the world who boast their own coopers practising the ancient craft of barrel making.

Ink black core, deep ruby and purple tones into the rim. Heady nose of ripe mulberry, ironstone, anise and cedar shavings. The palate fills with plush blue and purple fruits, an instant realisation that many elements are in play, all melded with a seamless purity that impresses. Savoury notes of ferrous minerals, dark spices and mocha all build this wine up whilst fine, gravelly tannins ensure that intensity translates to a driven and incredibly long palate. This is just a pup but so approachable in its texture, will build even more as it ages. Date: Aug 2024; Alcohol: 14.5%; Drink: 2024-2039; Rating: 97 Points; The Real Review

The fruit for this wine comes from five vineyards in the Barossa, with the oldest vines dating back to 1854. A classy, elegant and poised Shiraz that unfolds beautifully in the glass. Bacon fat and cedar make way for dusty blackberry and dark plum before the emergence of nutmeg and black cherry. A good swirl of the glass unlocks a lovely graphite mineral underlay furthering the complexity along with earth, cocoa and ground coffee. It all comes together with air, making for a complex melding of fruit and savoury notes. The palate is buoyant and vibrant showing notes akin to the nose. Blackberry, cedar, dark plum, graphite, and nutmeg glide high through the mouth with nothing cumbersome nor out of place. There’s gorgeous structure to this wine, with a black fruit drenched acid line working with ribbons of chalky black tea tannins to a long, elegant close. A beautiful wine that will only get better with a long rest in the cellar. Date: Sept 2024; Rating 96 Points; Wine Pilot