2020 Hobbs of Barossa Ranges Hobbs Tin Lids Shiraz Aria Secca

Expert review

Definitely a wine you need to seek out, even if only to experience its differences. From the Barossa Ranges, this is made in what is termed the ‘Amarone/Apassimento’ style, where handpicked grapes are laid out on racks and allowed to ‘semi-dry’. There is no set recipe for the drying – depends on conditions at the time. A wild ferment in open vats with hand plunging on a daily basis, for around ten days. Then a year maturing in French oak. Loved it. A very dark maroon. There are intriguing beef stock notes with spices and bay leaf touches. Dark berries, plums and a supple, seductive texture. Delightfully seamless, there are abundant but very fine tannins, impressive length, a richness to it and excellent balance. The palate provides more black cherry notes. This has a decade or more ahead of it. A fine example of what can be done with Barossa Shiraz to offer a richly flavoured wine of interest, but one which is not too much of the blockbuster. Hard to imagine it won’t prove immensely popular.

Ken Gargett, Winepilot