The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz - 2015 - Yalumba
Alcoholic content: 14.00 %
yr. 2016 Wine Enthusiast:
93 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2016 on 01.04.2021 with 93 of 100 points.
"The average age of the vines for this premium Shiraz is 1936, but some date back to 1854. From French and American staves coopered on site, "Octavius" offers an evocative and multifaceted nose with everything from currants, licorice and mocha to cedar, bay leaf and cloves. There's a lovely woodsy, wintery vibe, and a touch of bottle age, too that softens the ripe fruit but highlights the oak. The palate is powerful and lean at the moment, with elevated acidity and taut, slightly woody tannins. There's a nice tang to the fruit. It's hard to predict how this will age but the hope is it's got another decade left in it at least. Christina Pickard"
yr. 2015 Wine Enthusiast:
94 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2015 on 01.04.2020 with 94 of 100 points.
"This vintage of one of Yalumba's most premium wines is back up to the level of the 2013. It's a rich and heady combo of dark chocolate, brambly berries, licorice and earthy herbs. Tannins are integrated neatly within a silky texture of pure, tangy fruit and vibrant acidity. It's so likable now, it may not age as long as other Shiraz in this price point, but should still progress well for another decade or so. Christina Pickard"
yr. 2013 Wine Enthusiast:
94 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2013 on 01.02.2019 with 94 of 100 points.
"This inky-hued wine is still tightly wound and youthful considering its age. On the nose it offers a deep well of tangy berries, damp earth, black licorice, dark chocolate, violets and a touch of iodine. The oak is there too, in an almost charred form, but it doesn't stick out. It's rich and satiny smooth in texture, with fine-grained tannins that show a softness, gliding rather than gripping. Drink through 2028. Christina Pickard"
yr. 2014 Wine Enthusiast:
90 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2014 on 01.02.2019 with 90 of 100 points.
"This is a rich, powerful wine, but it's a poised and balanced one as well. While it doesn't succeed quite as well as the 2013, it nevertheless shows attractive notes of ripe blackberry, plum, licorice, violets and oak spice, with a herb and black pepper spine. The silky-textured palate is full and concentrated but avoids being jammy. Tannins are soft but structured with a savory finish. Drink now-2028. Christina Pickard"
yr. 2012 Wine Enthusiast:
93 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2012 on 01.01.2017 with 93 of 100 points.
"Named for the special format of small oak barrel it's aged in, this has soaked up the oak impressively. Hints of vanilla and graham crackers accent mixed berry fruit, while the finish is long and mouthwatering. There's ample concentration, yet the wine never seems heavy. Drinkable now, but why rush things? Drink 2020-2030."
yr. 2009 Wine Enthusiast:
93 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2009 on 01.01.2016 with 93 of 100 points.
"Octavius has always been oaky, but over the years the fruit has come into better balance, and the 2009 may be one of the most successful editions yet released. It's dense and impenetrable at first, only slowly yielding hints of plum, mocha and vanilla. The texture is rich and supple enough to make the wine approachable now, but it should evolve and improve through 2020 or beyond."
yr. 2008 Vinum Wine Magazine:
18 of 20 Points.
"Vinum Wine Magazine" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2008 on 01.09.2015 with 18 of 20 points.
"«Schöne fette Schnecke», schrieb ein Verkoster und bewertete hoch. Tiefdunkel, fast schwarz, am Gaumen rund und weich, warme Frucht, kaum Säure schmeckbar, dunkle Schokolade, dazu Veilchen, Süssholz und Leder."
yr. 2006 Falstaff:
93 of 100 Points.
"Falstaff" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2006 on 01.05.2013 with 93 of 100 points.
"Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. In der Nase feine florale und ätherische Nuancen, reife Kirschen, Orangenzesten, facettenreiches Bukett. Elegant und saftig, seidige Tannine, etwas Oliventouch, nördliche Rhône lässt grüßen, zeigt eine sehr gute Balance, frisch strukturiert, Orangen auch im Abgang, feine Minze und Zitrone im Nachhall, gute Mineralik, sicheres Reifepotenzial."
yr. 2006 Wine Enthusiast:
92 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2006 on 01.01.2011 with 92 of 100 points.
"As usual when young, the oak is obvious in the 2006 Octavius, reeking of smoke and cured meats. But there's also balancing raspberry fruit and hints of green peppercorn. This is full bodied and a bit tough and chewy on the finish; give it a few years to soften and integrate. Drink 2014-2020."
yr. 2004 Wine Enthusiast:
94 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2004 on 01.01.2007 with 94 of 100 points.
"Quite possibly the best Octavius yet; features explosive Shiraz aromas of raspberries and peppery spice. Is the usual intense barrel treatment more restrained, or the fruit just that much more expressive? The texture is wonderfully lush and creamy, with an expansive mouthfeel and complex flavors of berries and spice that linger elegantly on the finish. Probably best from 2010-2020."
yr. 2002 Wine Enthusiast:
93 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2002 on 01.01.2007 with 93 of 100 points.
". Smoky and cedary on the nose, with hints of cured meat that accent the explosive red fruit flavors. The mouthfeel is creamy smooth, the tannins wonderfully supple but undeniably present, elegantly framing the lingering, spicy finish. Drink now-2020."
yr. 2003 Wine Enthusiast:
90 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2003 on 01.01.2007 with 90 of 100 points.
"Caught between the outstanding '02 and '04 vintages, this is still an excellent vintage of The Octavius, but one to drink before the other two. The wine is open-knit, less structured and slightly lighter in body, with approachable spice, meat and blackberry flavors. Drink now-2013."
yr. 2000 Wine Enthusiast:
91 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2000 on 01.01.2005 with 91 of 100 points.
"The nose brings licorice in abundance, and the palate, a first-class package of blackberries and chocolate, delivered in a smoky-oak envelope. Drink through 2015. Imported by Negociants USA, Inc."
yr. 1999 Wine Enthusiast:
92 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 1999 on 01.01.2004 with 92 of 100 points.
"Mint, thyme and maybe even some ginger peek through on the nose. It starts off on the palate with sweet fruit that suggests a bold, in-your-face wine, but that it's more elegant than that: It has smooth tannins, mixed plums and a snap of white pepper and rosemary at the finish. This wine (as it always does) shows some serious oak--more than other tasters could handle--but it's excellent nevertheless."
yr. 1997 Wine Enthusiast:
92 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 1997 on 01.01.2001 with 92 of 100 points.
"The nose smolders with dried spices, toast and earth aromas; Octavius's palate and finish are similarly deep, with delicious dark-chocolate, jammy blackberry and licorice flavors. Dense and creamy in the mouth, with lots of oak from start to finish."
yr. 1995 Wine Enthusiast:
88 of 100 Points.
"Wine Enthusiast" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 1995 on 01.01.2000 with 88 of 100 points.
"Strong American oak pairs with intense blackberries in this offering from Australia's oldest family-owned winery. Black fruit and espresso flavors with vanilla underpinnings may be too much for some. A monster that doesn't quite sing--but that doesn't mean it can't hum a pretty tune."
yr. 2016 Wine & Spirits Magazine:
93 of 100 Points.
"Wine & Spirits Magazine" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2016 on 01.02.2021 with 93 of 100 points.
yr. 2016 Decanter World Wine Awards:
95 of 100 Points.
"Decanter World Wine Awards" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2016 on 01.01.2021 with 95 of 100 points.
yr. 2015 Wine Spectator:
92 of 100 Points.
"Wine Spectator" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2015 on 01.04.2020 with 92 of 100 points.
yr. 2014 Wine Spectator:
92 of 100 Points.
"Wine Spectator" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2014 on 01.04.2019 with 92 of 100 points.
yr. 2014 The Wine Front:
95 of 100 Points.
"The Wine Front" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2014 on 01.08.2018 with 95 of 100 points.
yr. 2015 Decanter World Wine Awards:
93 of 100 Points.
"Decanter World Wine Awards" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2015 on 01.06.2018 with 93 of 100 points.
yr. 2002 Robert Parker The Wine Advocate:
97 of 100 Points.
"Robert Parker The Wine Advocate" has rated the wine "Yalumba The Octavius" from the vintage 2002 on 01.07.2017 with 97 of 100 points.
