2017 Sons of Eden Romulus Shiraz, Barossa Valley

Blended from different parts of the Barossa Valley, the 2017 Romulus Old Vine Shiraz is wonderfully aromatic, offering up scents of bay leaf, cracked pepper and boysenberries. It's all framed by the judicious use of French oak, bringing vanilla and mocha notes to the lush, creamy mid-palate of this medium to full-bodied red. Despite the wine's impressive breadth and texture on the palate, it firms up nicely on the finish, ending crisp, silky and long. It's another terrific bottling from partners Corey Ryan and Simon Cowham

95 points robertparker.com

Sons of Eden Romulus Shiraz is a bold and beautifully structured Barossa Valley wine that celebrates the region’s ancient vines and deep winemaking heritage. The name Romulus references the legendary founder of Rome, symbolising strength and origin — a fitting title for this powerhouse Shiraz. Sons of Eden, founded by winemaker Corey Ryan and viticulturist Simon Cowham, was established to highlight the diversity of Barossa terroir through small-batch, expressive wines. Together, they draw on decades of experience in the Barossa and Eden Valleys to craft wines that balance modern precision with the soul of old-vine fruit.

Romulus is sourced exclusively from low-yielding, dry-grown Shiraz vineyards in the Barossa Valley, some more than 80 years old. These ancient vines are rooted in deep red clay and ironstone soils, producing fruit of incredible concentration and intensity. Hand-picked grapes are fermented in small open-top fermenters, with regular hand plunging for gentle extraction. The wine is then matured for around 18 months in a mix of new and seasoned French and American oak hogsheads, adding layers of spice, structure and complexity without overwhelming the purity of fruit.

In the glass, Romulus is deep crimson-purple with an alluring nose of dark plum, blackberry, and cassis interwoven with espresso, cocoa, vanilla pod and savoury spice. The palate is full-bodied yet finely detailed, offering a dense core of black fruits wrapped in velvety tannins. Notes of licorice, black olive and toasted oak carry through to a long, seamless finish with lingering warmth and mineral depth. Despite its power, there’s balance and poise — a hallmark of the Sons of Eden style.

This Shiraz is a classic example of Barossa intensity with modern polish, and it has excellent ageing potential — 12 to 15 years easily in the cellar. Pair it with slow-braised beef short ribs, lamb shanks with rosemary, or a rich mushroom and truffle risotto. It also pairs beautifully with hard cheeses like aged cheddar or manchego.