Something special – Greenock Creek Apricot Block Shiraz 2014, Barossa Valley

Unmistakeably Greenock Creek – it’s so different to all Aussie reds I know. To me, the style is even more unique than Wendouree’s.

Complexity is off the charts. Plums in every imaginable manifestation (fresh and sour, baked in cookies, dried), some licorice and asphalt, bay leaves and leather – it reveals new layers at each sniff. But the magical thing is the Tuscan-like character. Full-bodied, and despite the 15.5% alcohol, not sweet or fat; in fact, it’s a bit angular, something that I don’t like: it feels acid-adjusted, a bit disjointed. I wish for less acid and more tannin; a better balance, a more natural taste – that could make this one of the greatest wines of the World.

Rating: a bit controversial, but still outstanding. 91 points.
Price: around 50 Euros, but it’s hard to find in Europe. Available in the UK, though, check The Vinorium.
Tasted: September, 2019.
Source: I bought the bottle.
Drinking window: now-2023.