Yalumba

Written By Angus Hughson

Yalumba The Caley

Words by Andrew Caillard MW

Yalumba’s The Caley is named in recognition of Fred Caley Smith (1864-1913) who looked after the vineyards and orchards at his family’s property at the turn of the 20th Century. During these times Yalumba was enjoying boom times with the huge export demand for richly flavoured dry red wine and interstate trade in ‘port’. Fast forward to the present day Yalumba possesses key vineyards in Coonawarra (Menzies Vineyard) and the Barossa region.

Since time immemorial, Australian winemakers have been fascinated by the complimentary and obverse characters of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. It must have begun in the 1890s with the development of the red wine export market and a need to produce richly flavoured wine with vim and vigour. By the early 1890s demand for cabernet and shiraz (as well as grenache and malbec) led to significant new plantings in the Barossa; while in Coonawarra, the ‘blockers’ (growers) were instructed by John Riddoch to plant 2/3rds shiraz and 1/3 cabernet sauvignon. The show success of the legendary 1962 Penfolds Bin 60A Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Kalimna Shiraz led to a multi-generational obsession. The retro-modern 2021 Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz promises to develop into a classic claret style with all the hallmarks for a long cellaring life.

2021 Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz – Coonawarra/ Barossa – South Australia

Medium deep red. Lifted black berry pastille, red currant, malt, roasted chestnut hint black olive, graphite aromas with a waft of aniseed/ hint sage/mint notes. Richly flavoured and pure with intense cassis, blackberry fruits, fine lacy chalky tannins, underlying roasted chestnut, a lovely core of sweet fruit and long fresh slaty acidity with a kick of aniseed/ liquorice at the finish. Lovely fruit definition, complexity, suppleness and energy. 74% Coonawarra Cabernet 18% Eden Valley Shiraz, 8% Barossa Valley. 18 months in new (21%) and seasoned (including first year) French oak barriques and hogsheads. Bottled November 2022. Sealed under cork. Drink 2028 - 2045 14.5% alc 96+ points

Yalumba Release 2026

Reviews by Angus Hughson

The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
93 points | 2033-2048

The 2022 Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon has a powerful and compact core of black olive and graphite aromas, with a dusting of dried herbs, underpinned by a rich base of cedary oak. Classically proportioned and densely packed with oodles of blackberry and graphite flavors, with chunky, chewy tannins, offering impressive structure. Tightly focused, and structured, this wine will age supremely well, and will be at its best from 2033 going forward. 

The Caley Cabernet Shiraz 2021
95+ points | 2033-2052

The 2021 The Caley is incredibly tight and adolescent, yet to fully display all its cards. It opens with a firm core of soy sauce, graphite, dried herbs, sea spray, dried mint, gravel and graphite aromas before moving into more green olive, licorice and white pepper flavours with excellent weight and volume. Rich veins of powdery tannins underlie a long, strong and youthful finish. Enigmatic now but with potential to be legendary.

The Steeple Shiraz 2022
93 points | 2031-2044

Produced from a boutique vineyard planted in 1919 adjacent to the Light Pass Church, the 2022 Steeple Shiraz is hearty and almost old-fashioned in style, with a strong, savoury core of iron filings, licorice, and darker tones, with touches of dried sage and spice, encased in ample balanced oak. Sturdy in texture, with muscular, generous tannins which are well matched to a delightful core of fruit. Compact, well-composed and quite weighty, yet retains freshness and vibrancy through to a long and finely balanced finish. Classically proportioned to enjoy over the medium term.

The Signature Cabernet Shiraz 2023
92 points | 2030-2038

The cooler 2023 vintage has crafted a more supple, elegant and early drinking vintage of this Australian classic. There's a charming opening of cherry compote and black currant, with touches of dried herbs and old leather. With a fleshy open-knit style, this mid-weight wine is nicely balanced as black currant and black olive flavors are well-matched to al dente tannins over a fine finish of reasonable length. A tough vintage handled well. 

The Octavius Shiraz 2021
96 points | 2030-2050

Picture perfect aromas of blackberry, milk chocolate, and dried sage lead to a taut, and focussed palate of saltbush, pepperberry and garrigue savoury complexity accenting sweet dark cherry flavours. Seamless in style, with a firm, claret line of tannins that drive an ethereal, beautifully long and fine finish. Eden Valley shines bright in this release, which is brilliant and one of the best yet under this label.

Yalumba New releases 2024

2021 Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz - Barossa, South Australia

Signatory - Chris Gerhardy, production team - Yalumba

Medium deep crimson. Intense fresh elderberry, black cherry, blackcurrant, hint praline, mint aromas with underlying roasted chestnut notes. Inky deep pure and tight with ample black cherry, blackcurrant, herb garden flavours, plentiful fine loose-knit/slinky touch al-dente tannins and well-balanced roasted chestnut, vanilla notes. Finishes claret firm and minerally with some star aniseed notes. 19 months maturation in 23% new and seasoned Yalumba-coopered French barriques and Hungarian hogsheads. Generously concentrated wine with beautifully defined dark berry fruits, oak complexity and torque. Should develop very well.  Drink 2025 – 2038 14.5% alc 96 points   *****

 

2014 Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz – Barossa, South Australia

Signatory - Chris Greening, sales team - Yalumba

Medium deep crimson. Beautiful cassis, dark plum, vanilla aromas with hints of tobacco leaf. Well-developed blackcurrant, dark plum fruits, a touch of liquorice, chalky firm but sinuous textures, lovely mid palate volume and well-integrated vanilla, marzipan, roasted hazelnut notes. Finishes chalky firm and long with tobacco/ espresso notes. Very well-balanced wine with lovely density, richness and volume. At a very good stage of development but should continue to mature evenly for years to come. 21 months maturation in 32% new and seasoned Yalumba-coopered French barriques and Hungarian hogsheads. Some seasoned American oak as well. Drink now – 2032 14% alc 97 points  *****

 

2012 Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz – Barossa, South Australia

Signatory - Robert Hill-Smith, vigneron & proprietor - Yalumba

Medium deep crimson. Fragrant and complex wine with black cherry, blackberry, graphite, cedar aromas with brambly notes. Richly concentrated black cherry, blackberry fruits, persistent gravelly/ sinewy touch ferruginous tannins, lovely inky density and well- balanced cedar, roasted chestnut oak notes. Finishes sinewy firm, followed on by buoyant dark berry fruits. Generously flavoured and well evolved wine with impressive vigour and mineral length. 19 months maturation in 23% new and seasoned Yalumba-coopered French barriques and Hungarian hogsheads. Drink now – 2035 13.5% alc 95 points  *****

 

2009 Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz – Barossa, South Australia

Signatory - Clive Weston, sales & distribution - Yalumba

Medium deep crimson. Intense blackcurrant dark chocolate, roasted chestnut, vanilla tobacco leaf aromas. Superbly well-developed wine with inky deep cassis, praline, mocha flavours, lovely mid-palate volume, dense grainy tannins and underlying marzipan, roasted walnut, tobacco notes. A lovely firm muscular finish with attractive chocolaty/ dark berry fruits. 20 months maturation in 35% new and seasoned Yalumba-coopered French barriques and Hungarian hogsheads. Drink now – 2035 13.5% alc 94 points ****

 

2019 Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Intense cassis, dark cherry, mulberry, vanilla, mint aromas with hints of stonefruit. Expressive claret-style with pure blackcurrant, dark cherry fruits, classical grainy firm tannins, some roasted chestnut vanilla notes and well-integrated fresh linear acidity. Lovely mid-palate inky density and complexity. Finishes cedary/ spicy with graphite/ leafy notes. A reference Coonawarra Cabernet that should continue to age very well. 18 months maturation in 20% new and seasoned French and Hungarian Hogsheads. Drink now – 2035 14% alc 96 points  *****

 

2014 Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Well evolved cabernet with cassis, espresso, tobacco leaf, touch capsicum aromas. Inky deep palate with ample dark berry fruits, roasted coffee, tobacco leaf, black olive, chinotto notes, al-dente/ leafy/ grippy textures, attractive mid-palate density and hints of vanilla, marzipan. Finishes grippy and long. A firm claret style with lovely volume and mineral length. 20 months maturation in 36% new and seasoned French and Hungarian Hogsheads. Drink now – 2030 14% alc **93 points**  ****

 

2019 Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz, Barossa – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Intense inky, blackberry, black cherry, dark chocolate, chinotto aromas with marzipan vanilla hint oatmeal notes. Beautifully balanced and generously proportioned wine with ample inky, pure blackberry fruits, hint of sage, supple chocolaty firm tannins and underlying praline, mocha, marzipan, roasted chestnut notes. Finishes chocolaty firm and long. A classical Barossa Shiraz style with the volume and sinuous structure to last the distance. 19 months maturation in 25% new French oak barriques and hogshead. The balance in seasoned French oak hogsheads and octaves. Drink 2030 – 2048+ 14.5% alc 97 points *****

 

2014 Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz, Barossa – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Evolved earthy, wax polish, black berry aromas with roasted walnut notes. Inky deep earthy, blackberry, dark plum fruits, fine supple ripe, touch grippy tannins, attractive mid-palate density, some roasted walnut, chinotto notes. Finishes with a chalky plume and wax polish leather notes. Secondary characters bring a lovely complexity while bottle age gives added volume. Drinking very well now but should continue to develop. 20 months maturation in 38% new French and American oak octaves. The balance in seasoned barriques, hogsheads and octaves. Drink now – 2035 14% alc 95 points  *****

 

2009 Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz, Barossa – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. A classical Barossa Shiraz with generous blackberry, dark chocolate, liquorice aromas and hints of herb garden, polished leather and spice. Very well concentrated wine with generous blackberry, dark plum, dark chocolate, panforte flavours, plentiful looseknit chalky firm tannins, lovely inky density and some spicy, earthy notes. Chocolaty firm finish. Wonderful complexity volume and richness. The scent and purity of the Eden Valley singing through the density and flow of Barossa Valley fruit. 20 months maturation in 39% new French and American oak octaves. The balance in seasoned barriques, hogsheads and octaves. Drink now – 2035 13.5% 97 points *****

 

2022 Yalumba Tricentenary Grenache, Barossa Valley – South Australia

Medium light crimson. Perfumed strawberry, rose petal aromas with orange rind, hint flinty notes. Fresh and supple palate with strawberry, red cherry, redcurrant flavours, fine slinky/ lacy textures, lovely mid plate viscosity and well-integrated but juicy acidity. Chalky at the finish with star anise notes. Drinking beautifully now but should develop and expand with further bottle age. 372 post-fermentation maceration in stainless steel has created a compelling complexity and timelessness in style. Based on 820 surviving 1889-planted grenache vines in the heart of the Barossa Valley. Drink now – 2032 14% alc 95 points *****

 

2019 Yalumba The Caley Cabernet & Shiraz, Coonawarra & Barossa – South Australia

Deep crimson. Intense black cherry, cassis, dark chocolate, roasted chestnut aromas. Inky deep, voluminous and chocolaty with abundant dark cherry, cassis flavours, fine dense velvety tannins and well-integrated roasted chestnut, marzipan notes. Builds chocolaty firm at the finish with ample dark berry fruits. Elemental and powerfully structured wine with the density, volume and torque for long term aging. Keep for a while to allow the elements to fold. A high quality vintage destined for a great cellaring future. 77% Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 23% Barossa Shiraz. 19 months maturation in 24% new and seasoned French Barriques. Drink 2027 – 2040+  96 points *****

 

2014 Yalumba The Caley Cabernet & Shiraz, Coonawarra & Barossa – South Australia

Medium deep colour. Very expressive with roasted coffee, black cherry pastille, cassis, mocha aromas with tobacco/ hint sage notes. Beautifully balanced wine with black cherry pastille cassis fruits, looseknit chalky/ grainy tannins, superb mid-palate volume and viscosity and underlying espresso/ mocha oak complexity. Finishes leafy firm with seductive dark berry fruits and a lovely tannin plume. A beautiful wine that has developed into something special and lasting. Evoking the very best of the Australian Cabernet Shiraz tradition, it’s destined to become a classic vintage of the decade. 82% Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 18% Barossa Shiraz. 20 months maturation in 41% new and 59% seasoned French oak barriques. 14% alc Drink  2023 – 2038 98 points *****

 

2004 The Reserve

Deep crimson. Dark chocolate, blackberry, earthy, ironstone aromas with hints of wax polish and leather. Minerally blackberry, chocolate, dark cherry, chinotto flavours with roasted walnut, ferruginous earthy notes, attractive mid-palate richness and supple chocolaty touch grippy/ sinewy tannins. Finishes chocolaty and minerally with salted liquorice, espresso notes. A beautifully evocative wine showing the earthy polished leather characters, buoyancy/ volume and complexity achieved through bottle-age. Should hold up for many years to come. A blend of the best 20 barrels of Yalumba’s 2004 red wine vintage. 69% Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 31% Barossa Shiraz. 23 months maturation in 28% new French barriques, 24% new American hogsheads and seasoned oak hogsheads. 18 years bottle maturation in Yalumba cellars. 14.5% alc Drink now – 2035+ 94+ points ****

Angus Hughson
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