2022 Coriole Lloyd Reserve Shiraz, McLaren Vale

From original estate vines that are over 100 years old; matured in French oak, with 25% new. This is dripping in dark fruits and spice, a cohort of blackberry, dark plum, olive, anise, pumpernickel, bitter chocolate, cured meat, black pepper and demi-glace. Impactful, powerful, though not overbearing with it, the oak internal framework, not facade.

95 points Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion

Deeply brooding aromas of blackberry compote, blueberries, bitter chocolate, violets and sweet spices. The palate is full-bodied with finely tuned tannins, bright acidity and a seamlessly textured and creamy palate. There is a lovely complexity and vividness with underlying power.

95 points James Suckling

Coriole is one of McLaren Vale's most important family estates, a winery that has helped define the region since Hugh and Molly Lloyd purchased the property in 1967. Today, the Lloyd family remains firmly at the helm, with Mark Lloyd and winemaker Duncan Lloyd continuing a tradition of producing wines that combine regional generosity with balance and finesse. The Lloyd Reserve Shiraz sits at the pinnacle of the red wine portfolio, produced only in exceptional vintages from the estate's finest vineyard parcels.

The 2022 vintage delivered fruit of outstanding quality, with moderate conditions allowing Shiraz to develop intense flavour while retaining freshness and structure. Sourced from mature vines on the estate's ironstone rich and clay based soils, the fruit is carefully selected before undergoing traditional winemaking and extended maturation in French oak. The result is a wine that captures both the power of McLaren Vale and the elegance that has become a hallmark of Coriole's finest releases.

Deep crimson black in colour, the bouquet is rich and complex, revealing layers of blackberry, satsuma plum and dark cherry alongside notes of violet, black pepper and licorice. As the wine opens, hints of dark chocolate, cedar, olive tapenade and warm spice emerge, adding depth and intrigue. The palate is concentrated yet beautifully composed, delivering waves of dark berry fruit framed by fine grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Oak is seamlessly integrated, supporting a long, savoury finish filled with spice, earth and lingering black fruit.

This is a magnificent partner for slow roasted lamb shoulder, chargrilled ribeye, venison loin, braised beef cheeks or a mushroom and truffle pithivier. While already impressive with decanting, the wine has the balance and structure to reward fifteen to twenty years of careful cellaring.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2042.