Teusner Albert Shiraz 2006 (Barossa Valley, SA)
$45, Cork

It’s hard not to like the wines of Kym Teusner – old vine derived (45-90yrs old) Barossan reds that are sensitively oaked (24 months in 30% new) French and intelligently made. Lots of boxes ticked there…

A dense, purple edged red colour, the nose is soft & distinctively Barossan – a touch of VA at first, then deep plum, blackcurrant, and vanilla bean characters in a plush & open knit style. The palate has that magic combination of plush fruit of limitless depth, and an enhancing twist of choc vanilla oak that makes for a mouthfeel of cosseting flavour. It feels like a warm embrace of ripe, sweet fruit that flows right through the palate, with only a dry edge of tannins to limit the love.

Delightfully Barossan, its this sort of soft bear hug of a wine that Australian palates like to drink. Its quite sweet, ripe and only medium bodied, with a structure skewed towards plushness over savouriness, yet also wonderously dense, concentrated and unquestionably pure. It’s a typical Australian style, done incredibly well. 18.4