2018 Old Block Shiraz, St Hallett

This is one of the great names in Australian Shiraz: St Hallett’s flagship Old Block, an iconic Barossa red built from ancient vines and decades of regional know-how.

Deep, dark and beautifully composed, it opens with blackberry, damson plum, mulberry and black cherry, then folds into dark chocolate, liquorice, cedar, cinnamon, clove, black pepper and a little graphite depth. It has classic Barossa richness, but the Eden Valley component brings lift, spice and shape.

The palate is full-bodied, polished and powerful, with dense black fruit, mocha, cedar oak and fine-grained tannins carrying the wine through a long, savoury finish. There is generosity, but also real architecture: old-vine concentration, freshness, spice and a sense of slow-burning confidence. It is drinking superbly now with a decant, but has the depth and structure to keep evolving for many years.

For when you want Barossa Shiraz with pedigree, depth and proper old-vine authority.
Pairs with ribeye steak, slow-cooked beef cheek, roast lamb shoulder, venison pie, barbecue brisket, mushroom Wellington, or mature cheddar.
If this wine were… a texture, it would be antique velvet laid over polished dark wood.

St Hallett is one of the Barossa’s defining Shiraz producers, established in 1944 and long associated with old vines, grower relationships and a deep understanding of the region’s varied vineyard sites. Old Block is the estate’s flagship Shiraz, first made in 1980 to showcase rare, ancient Barossa vines. The 2018 is drawn from 66% Barossa Valley and 34% Eden Valley fruit, with an average vine age of 96 years, combining blackberry richness from the valley floor with cooler-climate spice, savoury texture and lift from Eden Valley.