Blackwell. Good

St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 2010
14.5%, Screwcap (one of those smart new WAK screwcaps), $40
Source: Sample
www.sthallett.com.au

The evolution of St Hallett Shiraz continues. Blackwell has always been the ‘classically’ styled wine amongst the St Hallett premiums, driven by fruit richness and ominpresent toasty American oak. This year, however, the oak seems better integrated, less obvious and more refined. A once-off or a serious style change? Whatever, it certainly looks more ageworthy because of it.

It certainly smells classic though, with a choc-plum rich nose with that sweetness and opulence of classic Barossa Shiraz. Palate is open, inviting and very Barossan – warm, plush and soaked in fruit richness. There’s nothing breathtaking about this wine – it’s just above medium weight, it’s hardly super deep or complex but gee it provides some succinct classic plush Barossa choc plum flavour in a quite timeless structure. It’s only going to get better too, in fact it positively needs more bottle age. Like.
 
Drink: 2013-22+
Score: 17.8/20 92/100+
Would I buy it? I’d be tempted