This wine has become an icon amongst my friends! You ask for perhaps the best value Barossa Shiraz... here it is!
The 2012 simply ran out the door and I can confidently say the 2013 is now well ahead as a spectacular vintage giving it a BIG run for its money! Ominous from the get go , this wine now has 4 stellar vintages behind it already. Opaque, dark, black colour with bright crimson hue. The nose shows great intensity with ripe dark plum and black raspberry intermixed with aniseed followed by some light toasty oak and spice. Medium to full bodied the palate possesses rich succulent flavours of dark plum, black raspberry and liquorice over a background of toasty oak with some spice on the finish. Soft supple texture with velvet smooth tannins. Long juicy aftertaste of succulent dark plums, black raspberries, star anise and spicy lightly toasted oak. Drink over the next 4-5 years.
I said it last time and I will say it again, each vintage of Linke just gets closer and closer to perfection. The 2013 is a real beauty though. An outstanding Barossa fruit-bomb possessing a monumental palate weight which develops yet another layer of complexity. Please buy up because if the last example is anything to go from, we will be out of stocks in no time at all.
From the Winery:
Located in Tanunda in the Barossa, Linke Wines is a boutique, 5th generation family owned producer with two vineyards - the "Stonewell" block which is on the western side of the Barossa Valley and the other at "Dorrien" which is on the valley floor. After growing high quality grapes for renowned labels for many years the decision was made in 2002 to put some fruit under the family name. Grapes for this Shiraz were from the low yielding Stonewell block. The final wine offers wonderfully intense fruit flavours that will satisfy those who have been pining since the sell out of Chris Ringland's totally over the top 'C.R. Signature' Shiraz. Super saturated inky black dark crimson red colour with very deep black dark crimson red hue. The nose displays aromas of liquorice, black plum and dark chocolate with some vanillin oak end notes. Super rich, voluptuous and densely concentrated the palate is flooded with mouthfilling flavours of liquorice, black plum and dark chocolate followed by some vanillin characters and a spicy peppery back palate that lingers. Velvet smooth well rounded tannins complement the wines plush fleshy mouthfeel. Superb depth with very long liquorice, black plum, spicy vanillin oak and blackpepper aftertaste. Drink over the next 3-4 years (2012-2016).
Only a small parcel of this wine has been produced making it unique and deserving of the "boutique" tag. Dark ruby red in colour and displaying fennel, liquorice and aniseed star aromas. Rich, ripe shiraz with Blackberry and Vanilla characters on the palate makes this shiraz one which can be enjoyed now, but will reward careful cellaring.
Fruit for Linke wines are selected from their Stonewell property, west of Tanunda in the Barossa Valley. All in all, a velvety smooth wine, with well rounded tannins, complementing the wines plush & sumptuous ride. A wine with superb depth, not for the fainthearted and definitely a Barossa style wine that over delivers with very long liquorice, black plum, spicy vanillin oak and black pepper finish.
Don't Pay: $29.00
WBW Rating: 96/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: Barossa Valley, SA
Winemaker: Stephen Black
Drink now until: 2020
Alc/Vol: 15.3 %
