St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2020

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.

"Tasted alongside the 2019, this 2020 Blackwell Shiraz is concentrated, sweet and muscular. Very good. Concentrated. Purposeful."  Erin Larkin

"Dark red with purple hues. An expressive bouquet brimming with layers of blackberry tart, black cherry, cacao nibs and sweet spice providing an aromatic lift. Full bodied and complex, expressing layers of concentrated blood plum and black cherry, combined with undertones of cocoa, nutmeg and vanilla bean all culminating in a harmonious structure of dense savoury tannins. A balanced wine with a certain vitality that will allow it to age gracefully over many years. Approachable upon release, will reward careful cellaring for 10-15 years.  

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

"Impenetrable core to a deeply-stained ruby-red rim. Mulberry, ironstone and dark chocolate aromatics. Rich, dense and weighty, a powerhouse shiraz that's loaded with dark berry fruit and layered complexity of savoury graphite and mocha notes. Tannins are powerful but wrapped in velvet, so the palate glides with great persistence to the drying finish. Many years of enjoyment will be found here and whilst not cheap it offers great value. Drink: 2022–2037."  Stuart Knox, The Real Review - 95 points

"Tasted alongside the 2019, this 2020 Blackwell Shiraz is concentrated, sweet and muscular. The impact of oak feels very different here: the nature of the 2019 and 2020 vintages were not dissimilar, yet the resultant wines are poles apart. Of the wines I have tasted, the 2020s seem to hold far more exuberance and vitality of fruit, and that is the case here with these wines. Very good. Concentrated. Purposeful. You can cellar it, but it's ready now. Drink: 2022 - 2040."  Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate - 93+ points

"This has a bright freshness to the blackberry and blueberry flavors at the core, with plush, velvety tannins and notes of mocha, fresh herbs and spices that gain momentum on the finish. Drink now through 2032."  MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator - 92 points 

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).