Richard Hamilton

Centurion 126 Year Old Vine Shiraz 2018

• 

  Vintage 2015
  95 points

Very deep, youthful, concentrated purple/red colour, the bouquet very young and raw, blood plum and sweet dried cranberry aromas. The wine is concentrated and lushly-fruited, profound and supple, the tannins fine and soft, the oak very much in the background. Long carry. The wine is callow and unready but has the makings of something special. (The vineyard's 125th anniversary vintage)

• 

  Vintage 2015
  94 points

Centurion Shiraz. Grown on vines planted in 1892 – that is, they were 125 years old at the time of vintage. All into French oak, hogsheads and vats. Fair to say that this is one of the lesser reliable of the established super premiums. This 2017 release though is good. It’s sweet and ripe but characterful – in a good way. Hay, sweet blackberry, chicken stock, cloves, dry spice and licorice. Redcurrant too. It’s powerful, accessible, firm and engaging at once. Toasty cedarwood characters are here too though the fruit is up to the task and then some. This is clearly one of the best Centurion Shiraz releases I’ve seen.