2009 Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz, Barossa Valley

With a classic Barossa Shiraz nose, the 2009 Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz with is rounder wine with warm fruit flavour of plum and black cherry and shows good complexities. With a medium finish, the wine is more measured at 14.5% alcohol, and the fine tannins lead to a lasting finish. Excellent value.

Representing a different and subtle style when compared to its older brothers, The Bogan and Old Bastard Shiraz, Old Vines is hand-harvested fruit very early in the morning before heating up by the sun, hence the elegance. Using a relatively short skin contact and raised in French oak( 30% new French oak and the remainder in 1 and 2-year-old French oak), it is racked only twice over two years' wood ageing. It is regularly topped with no filtration, therefore the purity and balance more than mere power.

Old Bastard is undeniably the flagship of Kaesler. However, many wine connaisseurs consider Old Vines much superior to Bogan regarding stylistics and fruit quality.

JAMES HALLIDAY 95 POINTS! "From three estate vineyards with 40, 60 and 112-year-old vines, matured for 12 months in French oak. The colour is good, rather than remarkable; the bouquet immediately signals a change from prior vintages, more perfumed, the palate more elegant, but still crammed with plum and blackberry fruit." James Halliday Wine Companion, 2012

EROBERTPARKER.COM 94 POINTS! "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2009 Old Vine Shiraz presents attractive notes of warm berries, forest fruit compote and blueberry pie melded with a licorice, loam and a spicy, fruit cake undercurrent. Full-bodied and richly fruited, it has tons of flavor. It is not heavy but is rather soft and seductive with medium levels of velvety tannins and just enough acid freshness to carry through a long, spicy finish. It is approachable now and will drink to 2022+. " Lisa Perotti-Brown, eRobertParker.com, 2013