St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2019

Blackwell Shiraz was first released in 1994, in honour of Stuart Blackwell, winemaker for more than three decades and a tireless contributor to the St Hallett story. The fruit is sourced predominately from Northern Barossa (vineyards in Greenock, Ebenezer and Moppa Hills) with the red brown clay soils creating wines with hallmark characteristics of black plum, cherries and dark chocolate.

"A perfectly balanced and poised medium-bodied shiraz, with a lustrous, succulent palate and a texture akin to Thai silk, tannins sufficient for the job and no more."  James Halliday

"A rich, deep crimson red, with vibrant hues. On the nose, complex layers of blackberry, fine cocoa and hints of baking spices gently elevate from the glass. An opulent and elegant Barossa Shiraz with complex flavours of blackberry and black forest, followed by waves of cocoa and baking spice on the middle palate. The supple tannins are well polished, persistent, and perfectly complement the American oak. This brilliantly structured, full-bodied and balanced wine will reward careful cellaring in years to come. 

Blackwell Shiraz is consistently sourced from vineyards in the parishes of Ebenezer, Greenock and Moppa Hills.  Individual parcels are harvested and treated as single batches in the winery.  The fruit was destemmed and transferred to various sized fermenters based on the batch size. Yeast selection, pump over regime and ferment temperature varied, based on the characters of the block with fermentation typically around 24 - 26°C and time on skins between 10 and 12 days. Malolactic fermentation took place in the fermenter.  After pressing, the parcels were filled to American oak barrels, where they matured for 12-16 months."  St Hallett

Expert reviews

"Bright-rimmed crimson purple; typically crushed and destemmed, 10 days on skins, 14 months in oak. A perfectly balanced and poised medium-bodied shiraz, with a lustrous, succulent palate and a texture akin to Thai silk, tannins sufficient for the job and no more. Drink by 2042."  James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 96 points and Special Value Wine  ★ 

"Deep red/purple colour, dense graphite, earth, black fruit aromas, the palate rich and full-bodied, savoury and drying on the finish with abundant soft tannins. A classic Barossa shiraz, a long termer and top-notch quality. Drink: 2022–2039."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 95 points

"Deep crimson. Fragrant star anise, elderberry, blackberry aromas with underlying spicy/ roasted walnut, cigar box notes. Well concentrated but compact with blackberry, redcurrant fruits, vigorous fine chalky /al dente tannins, plentiful cedar/ vanilla oak notes and persistent acidity. Finishes firm and drying with bittersweet notes. Still elemental. 2023–2030."  Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal - 94 points

"The 2020 and 2019 Blackwell Shiraz were tasted side by side; there exists no better way to compare and contrast a wine than this. This 2019 parades its toasted biscuit/resinous oak over the fruit, and shows the density and compacted nature of the vintage. The wine matured 14 months in oak, which is certainly not at the long end of the spectrum, yet the fruit has absorbed it, grain, knot and burl. The length of flavor is impressive, which forgives all exuberance of oak. Give it a couple of years for the fruit and oak to catch up with each other. Drink: 2024 - 2039."  Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate - 92 points

Awards

Special Value Wine – Halliday Wine Companion  ★ 

About the winery

Established in 1944 by the Lindner Family, St Hallett represents the very spirit and soul of winemaking in the Barossa. For most of that time it was owned, or part-owned, by one family, the pioneering Lindners, who arrived in the Barossa from Silesia in 1838. In 2017, St Hallett was acquired by Accolade. 

St Hallett sources all grapes from within the Barossa and is synonymous with the region's icon variety, shiraz. From the beginning, St Hallett understood the importance of saving old vines and focusing on varieties that thrive in the Barossa region. Strong long-term relationships with focused and passionate growers give St Hallett access to the Barossa's most prized vineyards, some of which were planted over 100 years ago. Over the years, St Hallett has built up a deep understanding of the rich tapestry of vineyard sites and climates in the Barossa and sources the finest vines and highest-quality parcels of fruit the Barossa can offer.

Old Block Shiraz (using grapes from Lyndoch and Eden Valley) is their flagship wine, supported by Blackwell Shiraz (using grapes from Greenock, Ebenezer and Moppa Hills).