2022 Eisenstone Richardson Goldfeld Vyd Shiraz, Barossa Valley

Opaque core, dense ruby red rim. Blueberry, raspberry, vanilla pod and dark chocolate aromas. Full and weighty, velveteen as it glides across the tongue with a density and power that fills every corner of the palate. That aromatic profile is mirrored on the palate, all singing in harmony while fine and persistent tannins work at the edges to ensure it never spills over and loses focus. Prodigious length, riding along with depth and power. It does eventually come to a gloriously plush but focused finish 06 Feb 2025 Drink 2025–2043

97 points Stuart Knox therealreview.com

Eisenstone Richardson Goldfeld Vineyard Shiraz is a rich and meticulously crafted single-vineyard Shiraz from the northern reaches of the Barossa Valley, produced by Stephen Cook, the thoughtful and quietly brilliant winemaker behind Eisenstone. The name Eisenstone reflects both the ironstone soils of the Barossa and Stephen’s German heritage, and each bottling under this label is focused on small parcels from celebrated vineyards—always single-site, always expressive.

The Goldfeld Vineyard, located in the Moppa subregion, is known for its ironstone-rich, red-brown loam soils over clay. This combination naturally limits vine vigour, focusing the fruit and producing wines of striking intensity and mineral character. Moppa is one of the Barossa’s lesser-sung heroes, but those in the know seek it out for the distinctive richness and structure it lends to Shiraz.

Stephen Cook’s approach is low-intervention but highly detailed. The fruit is handpicked, wild fermented in small open fermenters with gentle cap management, and then basket-pressed into a selection of new and seasoned French oak barriques. The wine typically sees around 18 to 24 months in oak, depending on the vintage, and is bottled with minimal fining and filtration.

In the glass, this Shiraz is dense and powerful but composed, opening with aromas of ripe blackberry, mulberry, cocoa, black olive tapenade, and hints of dark florals and star anise. There’s a meaty, ferrous edge—a clear nod to the ironstone terroir—woven with notes of clove, vanilla pod and graphite. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and richly textured, with a deep core of dark fruit, supple but assertive tannins, and balanced acidity that gives drive to the finish. It’s a wine of impact, but not excess. Structure, detail and polish shine through the generous fruit.

Decanting brings out the finer notes of cured meat, dried herbs and black tea. Pair it with roasted lamb shoulder, wagyu steak, venison with blackcurrant jus or a smoky eggplant and harissa tagine. It will cellar effortlessly for 12 to 20 years, evolving complexity and depth with time.

Critics have started to take serious note of Eisenstone, with the range receiving consistent accolades for its purity, site fidelity and age-worthy construction. The Richardson Goldfeld Vineyard Shiraz stands among the most expressive of the series—pure Moppa magic in a bottle.