2022 Massena Single Vineyard Greenock Shiraz, Barossa Valley

An unctuous and wickedly pure shiraz from the western subregion of Greenock. Blackberry, doris plum conserve and blueberry fruits with underlying hints of clove, licorice, oak spice, dark chocolate, earth, ironstone, panforte and violets. Superb fruit purity and density here, laid on a base of ironstone and spice. A little less horsepower this year, perhaps, but that dialling down in grunt offers compelling drinking with a touch more detail, and that is something I love. Drink to 2040.

95 points Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion, June 2025

Massena was established in 2000 by Barossa locals Jaysen Collins and Dan Standish. Their aim was for Massena wines to have character, balance and a sense of the enjoyment they have in the whole winemaking process. The never ending search for great vineyards has culminated in welcoming Stonegarden custodian Glen Monaghan into the collective.

The Massena Single Vineyard wines are small batch releases showcasing Barossa Valley’s old vine heritage and sub-regional characters. Greenock has rich red clays over limestone, which restricts vigour and gives a smaller berry size. The resultant wines are powerful and structured with mineral notes from the limestone substrate.

Good winter and spring rainfall set the vines up for reasonable yields ahead of the 2022 season despite frost damage in parts of the valley. Hailstorms necessitated removal of damaged material in a small number of vineyards, but the otherwise temperate and long season produced elegant and structured wines; a vintage for those who find the Barossa in a generous year just a little overwhelming.

The fruit for this wine was destemmed and fermented in wooden fermenters with plunging twice daily before lids were placed on the ferments, with a further 4 weeks on skins to build tannin structure. Basket pressed direct to barrel and aged on lees for 20 months in a mix of oak: a single new French puncheon as well as a couple of seasoned barriques. The wine was bottled unrefined and unfiltered.

Strong aromas of blueberries, dark plum and violets with subtle clove and licorice. The harmonious palate offers dense but pure flavours throughout the lingering finish. A wine with a clarity to its voice and a clear sense of place.

Effortless Australian elegance that is made for a weekend among good friends. Prepare a wild mushroom and game meat pie to have at the dinner table or cook a salt-crusted leg of lamb over fire for an evening outside.

Open now with plenty of air, or cellar for a decade.