The 2006 Octavius Barossa Shiraz casts a very deep garnet-purple color and presents pronounced warm cherry and dried flower notes with some youthful crushed blackberries, earth, truffles, tree bark and Chinese five spice. Elegant, medium-bodied and crisp in the mouth, it gives firm fine tannins, great concentration and a very long finish. Drink it now to 2022+. Remaining one of Australia’s oldest, largest and most prestigious family owned companies, Yalumba’s top wines should not be overlooked amongst the limelight-hogging young-gun wines that have sprung-up around the Barossa in the last 20 years. Some of the region’s finest vineyards are owned or contracted by this company. They’ve also contributed considerably to the quality of vine material available throughout the region with the impressive developments at the Yalumba nursery. Regarding the current releases, The Signature and Octavius won’t be released in 2007. I was informed that in 2008 all their reds were picked before the first week of March but there were no single site wines made in 2008 because it was felt the fruit wasn’t expressing the sites. 2009 was a good year and everything will be released, though winemaker Louisa Rose confessed that their early maturing Shiraz suffered the most in the 2009 heat spike.Importer: Negociants USA, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-0993

As usual when young, the oak is obvious in the 2006 Octavius, reeking of smoke and cured meats. But there’s also balancing raspberry fruit and hints of green peppercorn. This is full bodied and a bit tough and chewy on the finish; give it a few years to soften and integrate. Drink 2014–2020. ——J.C.(11/1/2011)—— 92