2020 Head The Blonde Shiraz

95 POINTS

Stuart Knox - The Real Review

Deep and concentrated ruby-red colour in the glass. Blueberry, tapenade and dry-earth aromas. The palate sits with an intensity of fruit that is still tightly wound and controlled by fine, yet powerful tannins. White pepper, anise, blueberry and tar all come together to fill the senses and this joyous cacophony carries right to the very long end. A wine of detail and controlled power that will offer great cellaring rewards

95 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The Blonde and the Brunette are siblings and are so named for their soil types. The Blonde is made from Shiraz grown in limestone, and the Brunette is Shiraz grown in red clay and ironstone. The Barossa is a complex and diverse patchwork of soil types and terroirs, and where the fruit is grown heavily impacts the style of wine that is made from it. So, this 2020 The Blonde Shiraz is fine, floral, detailed and almost mineral in its display of fruit and spice. The splay of tannin through the mid-palate and finish shows this has miles to go before it sleeps and gives us something to chew and hold in the meantime. It's really fresh and concentrated at the same time. Almost pure.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

Berries, walnut, sweet tobacco, and asphalt aromas follow through to a medium to full body, fine velvety tannins with a medium finish. Some tile. Meaty, juicy and spicy. Drinkable but better in a year or two.

94 POINTS

Dave Brookes - Halliday Wine Companion

Shiraz sourced from a range of sites across the Barossa and Eden Valleys: 48/40/9/8% Stonewell/Flaxman Valley/Nuriootpa/Moculta. Aromas of dark and black plum and berry fruits, cut through with spice, pepper, roasting meats and earth. Impressive fruit density in the mouth, with wonderful flow and presence, tightly packed tannin and a savoury, meaty plume of plummy fruit on the finish.

94 POINTS

Dave Brookes - Halliday Wine Companion

Shiraz sourced from a range of sites across the Barossa and Eden Valleys: 48/40/9/8% Stonewell/Flaxman Valley/Nuriootpa/Moculta. Aromas of dark and black plum and berry fruits, cut through with spice, pepper, roasting meats and earth. Impressive fruit density in the mouth, with wonderful flow and presence, tightly packed tannin and a savoury, meaty plume of plummy fruit on the finish. Dave Brookes Published 03 August 2022

93 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Perfume of white flower, cherry, blackberry, apricot stone, subtle vanilla oak and spice. Medium to full-bodied, cherry and blackberry, some mouth-perfume, fine chocolate tannin and milk chocolate flavour, cool acidity, nice and even, with a slightly bitterness of dried herb and orange peel on the finish. Lovely wine. Calm and composed, with plenty of come-hither fragrance." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

93 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

A blend of Stone Well, Wilton Hill, Nurioopta and Moculta, in descending order of percentages. The secret weapon is the inclusion of 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Perfume of white flower, cherry, blackberry, apricot stone, subtle vanilla oak and spice. Medium to full-bodied, cherry and blackberry, some mouth-perfume, fine chocolate tannin and milk chocolate flavour, cool acidity, nice and even, with a slightly bitterness of dried herb and orange peel on the finish. Lovely wine. Calm and composed, with plenty of come-hither fragrance.

93 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Winepilot

Loved this blend of 92% Shiraz with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, a 50/50 split from the Barossa and Eden Valleys including a portion from vines planted in 1890. Excellent complexity and composure as it displays rich wells of soy sauce, roasted meat, blackberry and clove spice aromas that retain good focus. There is then an impressive mix of juicy fruit flavours in the dark and red cherry spectrum well supported by a firm base of tannins before opening out to a richly flavoured finish. A lovely wine that will age well.