2021 Talus Shiraz

With super-svelte tannins, the purity of Talus’ vibrant black berry and cherry fruit makes for a heady, polished delivery. In 2021, a spectacular vintage, it has beguiling layer and lift, with black pepper, granitic minerality, spicy pimento and a touch of cedar oak. Persistent, well-integrated acidity makes for a long, fluid finish. Sourced from vineyards Cellar Block west and Old Block north, the harvest was completed on 27 April.

There's a power to this wine, a force, and yet it also comes across as a wine with a keen savoury side. Win-win. Black cherry, hazelnut, black pepper and rounds of leaf matter and tobacco put on a confident and highly engaging display. Indeed, it's beautiful.

The colour is brilliant and bright with deep crimson hues. The nose offers a lovely combination of cherry and chocolatey dark plums, it’s engaging from the outset. The medium bodied palate is neatly structured with satsuma plum, a little licorice and dark chocolate richness. Seamless oak integration with fine chalky tannins sustains a long finish.

Dense ruby with a deep ruby rim. Fragrant and lush on the nose, dark berries and exotic peppers all lift from the glass. Has plush fruit from entry, medium to full in weight with very appealing layers of lavender, white pepper and sandalwood all building complexity and character. Tannins build and drive it, sitting in harmony with the fruit yet ensuring it retains focus and detail to the very long finish. A stunning representation of the variety and region.

This refined 2021 shows admirable poise and quite beautiful complexity with its complex aromas of violets, wood smoke and white pepper with a musky plum base. Very well controlled, dark berry flavours are intertwined with manicured, pliable tannins. Delicious now but also a sleeper that will appreciate some time in the cellar.