Before the reviews take this wine to the cellar, stellar stage - get in first and put some away is my advice.....It is a wine that just has weight, character, seamless strength and long, long, satisfying depth in all areas.
My mates always ask - What can I buy to put away for a bit? - BUY THIS!
Bendigo Shiraz is some of the finest from Australia, and Blackjack is possibly the best the district has to offer. This comes as no surprise top anyone whose ever had a glass or two, it’s a bit of a mindblower. Dark inky red in colour with aromas of plum, nutmeg and anise (and just the slightest secondary whiff of liquorice and vanilla) at first glimpse/smell it’s enough to knock you back in your seat. The palate is all dark almost overly ripe fruit, the sweetness tempered by dark chocolate, vanilla, and a perfectly melded thread of fine oak and fruit flavours on the finish. Refined, balanced, perfect.
Awards and Accolades
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ James Halliday winery rating
93 Points - Jeremy Oliver "Compared to the Block 6 this is firmer, more rustic and meaty shiraz with a pristine core of gentle but perfectly ripened small berry and plum flavours and charming complexity. lt’s spicy and faintly reductive, developing some meaty, leathery complexity beneath its vibrant aromas of cassis, blackberries, red currants and blueberries. Medium to full-bodied, it extends with elegance and style down is supple, fine-grained palate, delivering a lively spectrum of dark plum and red berry flavour, building a little firmness towards its long and faintly savoury finish."
2013 Vintage: 95 Points - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion "In a word: beautiful. Rich but silken, awash with pure, dark berried flavour but admirably aided by savoury inputs and a sheer coating of creamy oak. That its (gently peppery) tannin moves in perfect formation through the back half of the wine is no small bonus."
From the Winery
Harvested: April March 2014 100% Shiraz from original planting Bottled: March 2016 pH 3.66 Acidity 6.4 g/l
Don't Pay: $42.00
WBW Rating: 95/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: Harcourt Valley, Bendigo
Winemaker: Ian McKenzie
Drink now until: 2026
Alc/Vol: 13.5 %