Mission Codename Well within your price (g)range
Deep Cover: Grange doppelganger for a TENTH!
“Reminiscent of some Grange Hermitage cuvées from the early 70s, Yalumba’s The Octavius is a wine of supreme quality, with a singular personality as well as 20-25 years of aging potential.” - Robert Parker
Collectors! Lovers of massive fruit!
Do you like big, lush reds that drop A SERIOUS PAYLOAD OF FRUIT right onto your taste buds? A flagship from an icon? A wine made only in select vintages, with a gang of scores in the 96-97 range? Did we say $79?! When the 2016 Grange costs $700-$1,000? Sheesh!
While this is only our second Yalumba feature (it’s real hard to get a great deal out of them!) they are Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, dating back to 1849. They obviously have stunning vineyards to work with for their exceptional wines, consistently churning out one press darling after another. We’ve been yearning to get you the next killer opportunity by Yalumba for a good while now, so here it is!
If cults Aussie Shiraz like Grange, Hill of Grace, or RunRig rock your boat, do not miss out on this!
Did we say this is the best price in the US?!
Won’t last the day…
97 Points – Bob Campbell MW
“From old vines back to 1854. Barossa. Incredibly intense, dense shiraz with cassis, dark berries, chocolate-mocha, dried fruits and mixed spices. The wine gradually unfolds in the mouth revealing many subtle nuances. It will certainly reward cellaring. It has the texture of cocoa powder.”
96 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
“The red wines here at Yalumba, and there are a whole lot of them, deliver a serious payload of intense fruit but rarely, if ever, come off heavy. On the contrary, I have consistently found them to be polished (but not slick, if that resonates) and finely detailed with a highly appealing tannin/fruit interplay. There is a dizzying array of bottlings produced at this 400+ hectare estate, and the value that they deliver from top to bottom is awfully impressive. The Octavius in 2016 is saturated ruby. Heady aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, vanilla and incense, with smoky mineral and exotic spice accents building in the glass. Seamless in texture and deeply concentrated, offering palate-staining black and blue fruit, floral pastille and mocha flavors that turn sweeter with air. At once plush and lively, finishing extremely long and smoky, with repeating dark berry and floral notes and velvety tannins. Drink 2024-2035.”
96 Points – Decanter
“This blend of Barossa Valley (67%) and Eden Valley fruit hails from five parcels averaging 80 years old, the oldest planted in 1854. Intensely concentrated in hue and muscular flavour. Spicy and mineral to the nose and palate, with glimpses of violets. Its iodine and liquorice-edged black cherry and blueberry flavour is succulent, but still in the grip of the sinewy, charry oak, making for an imposing, slightly austere finish. A powerhouse. Drink 2021-2036.”
What the Winery Says
2016 'The Octavius' Old Vine Barossa Valley Shiraz
![Yalumba](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/producer/photo/2988-686bac58759ff512a314d49943fcb2c8f20c4777/square_photo.jpg)
![Yalumba](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/producer/photo/2988-686bac58759ff512a314d49943fcb2c8f20c4777/square_photo.jpg)
- Winemaker
- Kevin Glastonbury
- Varietal
- 100% Shiraz
- Vintage
- 2016
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Appellations
- 67% Barossa Valley, 33% Eden Valley
- Harvest dates
- February 16 - March 17, 2016
- Average age of vines
- 80+ years old
- Soils
- Sandy loam, yellow sand & ochre clay over red clay
- Total acidity
- 6.58 g/L
- pH
- 3.52
- Aging
- 22 months
- Barrels
- 28% new French oak
About the Winery
Yalumba
![Yalumba Winemaker Kevin Glastonbury](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/producer/person_photo/2988-686bac58759ff512a314d49943fcb2c8f20c4777/square_person.jpg)
![Yalumba Winemaker Kevin Glastonbury](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/producer/person_photo/2988-686bac58759ff512a314d49943fcb2c8f20c4777/square_person.jpg)
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![Yalumba 2016 'The Octavius' Old Vine Barossa Valley Shiraz 750ml Wine Bottle](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/product/bottle_image/8298-abd9e1f1f38552465a5bd77614233ad7152ccbbd/large_bottle_image.jpg)
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![Yalumba 2016 'The Octavius' Old Vine Barossa Valley Shiraz 750ml Wine Bottle](https://s3.amazonaws.com/thewinespies-production/uploads/product/bottle_image/8298-abd9e1f1f38552465a5bd77614233ad7152ccbbd/large_bottle_image.jpg)