2022 Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz, Barossa Valley

Deep crimson with aromas of boysenberry, black cherry and Doris plum fruits. Hints of blackberry conserve, graphite, dried herbs, baking spices, violets, licorice, dark chocolate and earth. Rich-spiced black fruits on the palate with a powdery tannin presence and slight savoury lean on the exit.

92 points Dave Brookes winecompanion.com.au

Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz from the Barossa Valley is a bold, full-bodied red with deep roots in one of the region’s oldest and most storied vineyards. This wine is a flagship expression of Barossa Shiraz, consistently offering richness, concentration and ageability. It comes from the Filsell Vineyard, planted in the 1920s, with gnarly old vines that deliver small berries packed with intense flavour.

The winemaking is led by Craig Stansborough, who has been with Grant Burge since the mid-1990s. His approach with Filsell is to preserve the vineyard’s character while building complexity and power. The fruit is fermented in stainless steel open-top fermenters, followed by extended maturation in a mix of French and American oak, a portion of it new, to enhance the wine’s structure and spice profile without overwhelming the fruit.

In the glass, it delivers classic Barossa depth and opulence. Aromas of ripe blackberry, dark plum, black cherry and mocha rise alongside notes of liquorice, vanilla bean and roasted spice. The palate is plush, dense and layered with dark chocolate, blackberry conserve and hints of charry oak. Fine-grained tannins provide structure beneath the richness, and the finish is long, warming and satisfyingly powerful.

It’s a natural match for grilled ribeye, slow-cooked beef cheeks, roast lamb with rosemary or aged cheddar. For something adventurous, pair it with chargrilled eggplant, miso-glazed mushrooms or kangaroo fillet with native spice rub.

With careful cellaring, Filsell can comfortably age for 10 to 15 years, developing savoury complexity and softening into a more integrated, luxurious style.