Yalumba, 'Samuel's Collection' Shiraz, 2022
Yalumba, 'Samuel's Collection' Shiraz, 2022
- 75cl
- 14.5%
- Red Still
- Shiraz
- Vegan
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2030
Bold yet balanced, this 2022 Shiraz is Australia with style - it’s plush on entry but never flabby; the palate carries generous fruit framed by smooth, powdery tannins and a streak of savoury spice that keeps it all honest. The finish is long, warm and layered, with just enough grip to make you want another sip.
Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, founded in 1849 and still stewarded by the Hill-Smiths. Across decades, the estate has blended tradition with subtle innovation, making wines that are rich, structured and built to be enjoyed over time.
Currently showing vibrant primary fruit with well-integrated tannins, this 2022 is drinking beautifully now but has the structure to develop further. Over the next 2-3 years, the plush fruit will integrate more completely with the savoury spice elements, whilst the tannins will soften and become more seamless. The wine should hit its peak drinking window around 2027-2030, when secondary complexity will emerge whilst retaining the generous fruit character.
What the critics say:
"This vibrant and approachable 2022 Shiraz Samuel's Collection shows a handsome mix of pulpy, plummy arornas lifted by a generous serve of dark earth and wood smoke. A mid-weight and balanced palate with flavors in the tarry spectrum against a backdrop of firm tannins. Close to peak but will hold for a little while."
"The 2022 Yalumba Samuel’s Collection Shiraz is similarly well-crafted and well-priced and further proof that the Hill-Smiths really do love us all. Drawn from varied sites in the Barossa, each enjoying its own microclimate, it’s cannily blended before spending almost a year in young and old French and Hungarian hogsheads. The result is a fresh, lively, fruity, spicy and almost chocolatey wine, begging to be drunk."
Tasting Notes
AppearanceDeep ruby-purple with good colour density and a bright rim.
NoseInviting aromas of ripe plums and dark berries mingle with wood smoke and earthy undertones. There's a lovely lift from the oak integration, with subtle spice and a hint of dark chocolate adding complexity without overwhelming the fruit.
PalateThe entry is plush and welcoming, with generous dark fruit flavours supported by smooth, powdery tannins that provide structure without heaviness. A streak of savoury spice runs through the mid-palate, keeping the wine honest and preventing any sense of over-ripeness or flabbiness.
FinishLong, warm and layered with just enough grip to draw you back for another sip.
Overall impressionThis is Australian Shiraz with genuine style - rich and approachable yet balanced and food-friendly.
Food Pairings
In South Australia, this style of Shiraz would naturally accompany the region's excellent beef and lamb, perhaps a slow-cooked lamb shoulder with native pepperberry or a char-grilled ribeye with roasted root vegetables. The wine's savoury spice and firm tannins make it perfect with game meats like kangaroo or venison, whilst the plush fruit character complements the rich, earthy flavours of mushroom dishes and aged hard cheeses. Local barbecue culture means it would shine alongside grilled meats with native herb rubs, the wine's smokiness echoing the char from the grill.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at 16-18°C to show both the fruit generosity and structural elements at their best. A brief decant of 30 minutes will help integrate the tannins and allow the savoury spice to emerge, though it's approachable straight from the bottle. Use large Bordeaux-style glasses to concentrate the aromatics while giving the wine room to breathe. If cellaring, store on its side in a cool, dark place with consistent temperature.
Samuel's Collection draws fruit from varied sites across the Barossa Valley, each bringing different microclimatic influences to the blend. The region's warm continental climate and diverse soils, from red clay over limestone to sandy loam, create ideal conditions for Shiraz. These varied vineyard sites allow Yalumba to craft a wine with complexity and depth, balancing the generous fruit character Barossa is famous for with structure and spice.
The Barossa Valley is Australia's most celebrated wine region, established by German settlers in the 1840s and famous worldwide for its robust, full-bodied Shiraz. Unlike neighbouring Eden Valley's cooler, higher sites, Barossa Valley's warm valley floor produces ripe, generous wines with plush fruit character. The region's old vine heritage and diverse soils create Shiraz with both power and finesse, setting the global standard for Australian red wine.
The 2022 Barossa tells a tale of two seasons. Winter delivered proper rainfall after years of drought stress, filling dam levels and giving vines the deep drink they desperately needed. Spring started promisingly until La Niña brought weeks of persistent rain that had growers nervously watching for disease pressure and dilution. Then summer turned the script entirely—extended dry conditions with several heat spikes pushed harvest dates later than expected, concentrating flavours but demanding careful canopy management to prevent burning.
What emerged was a vintage of surprising restraint for the Barossa, with Shiraz showing more savoury spice than the usual fruit-forward power, and Grenache displaying lovely perfume without the jammy weight we sometimes see. The reds have structure and freshness that suggests they'll age gracefully, though the best bottles are already drinking beautifully if you fancy them young. Riesling and Semillon from the Eden Valley performed particularly well, capturing bright acidity from those cooler nights. We'd celllar the serious reds until 2026, but honestly, they're rather good company right now.
FAQs
What does this Shiraz taste like?
It's plush and generous with dark plum fruit, but balanced by savoury spice, wood smoke, and firm tannins that keep it structured and food-friendly.
When should I drink this wine?
It's drinking beautifully now and will continue to improve over the next few years, reaching peak drinking around 2027-2030.
What food pairs well with this Shiraz?
Perfect with grilled red meats, slow-cooked lamb, barbecued beef, or rich mushroom dishes - the savoury spice complements hearty, flavourful food.
Should I decant this wine?
A brief 30-minute decant will help integrate the tannins and open up the aromatics, but it's perfectly enjoyable straight from the bottle.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
Yes, it has the structure to develop beautifully over the next 5-8 years, gaining complexity whilst retaining its generous fruit character.
How does this compare to other Barossa Shiraz?
It shows the region's signature generosity but with more restraint and structure than many, making it both approachable and age-worthy.
OUR GROWERS
Yalumba
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