Description
"The Old Bastard Shiraz is the essence of the Barossa Valley and is a true testament to the history, soils and place that is the Barossa. The oldest vineyards in the Old Vine Trio, with planted in 1893, the Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz is one of Australia’s most collected wines and is considered a benchmark for premium Barossa Shiraz around the world.
Hand harvested in the early morning of March 9th after a “perfect” ripening season. The grapes were then immediately destemmed and fermented on skins for 7 days, with twice daily remontage. After pressing and subsequent settling, the wine was aged in 50% New French oak for 18 months, prior to bottling in March of 2023." - Kaesler
"I dragged a bottle of this wine over to New Zealand to drink with my father on his 70th birthday. He loved both the wine and the sentiment and the empty bottle still sits in his workshop. He's 87 now and still a magnificent old bastard, as is this wine. It's classic Barossa. Ancient vines planted 1893. It feels wise, like its parent vines have seen it all in their lifetimes, and I'm sure they have. Blackberry, black cherry and plum, layers of spice, pressed flowers, chocolate, earth, panforte and pan juices. It's full bodied but there's a loose-knit spaciousness to its form; all grace and latent power; tannins powdery fine and finish long and true. I love it." - 96 points, Dave Brookes
"Dark, inky red and opaque in the glass. Heady and opulent aroma of mulberry, satsuma plum, dried herbs, pot-pourri, Asian spice, boysenberry, sweet oak and cola. Big, bold and concentrated in flavour. Lashings of brooding dark fruits, along with bitter chocolate, spice and a cranberry-like acid crunch. Big-time wine with balance and a long future ahead of it." - 95 points, Aaron Brasher
"Bold and complex aromas of blackberries, blood plums, mocha, mulberries and violets. The palate is full-bodied with a densely packed, creamy and generous mouthfeel, giving flavors of cured game meat, cassis, licorice and spices. Nicely constructed, with good tension and balance. Drink or hold." - 96 points, James Suckling
