2024 Brave Souls The Whaler Shiraz, Barossa Valley

A reasonably equal blend of Shiraz from the Eden Valley and Barossa Valley, this is absolutely delicious drinking. The team include a small percentage of whole bunches in the fermentation and maturation continues for around fourteen months.

Dark magenta, the nose opens with lashings of dark chocolatey oak and vanilla touches. This is very well supported with notes of coffee beans, mocha, plums and mulberries. Ripe and intense, this wine revels in its big bold Barossa flavours. There is excellent length here and fine balance with supple, satiny tannins. The palate is absolutely chockers with molten chocolate and aniseed notes. Will continue to drink beautifully for the next ten to twelve years.

 93 points Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

Brave Souls The Whaler Shiraz from the Barossa Valley is a bold, generously flavoured red that captures the essence of the region's classic Shiraz style with a modern, polished edge. Named in tribute to the unsung maritime heroes of South Australia’s past, The Whaler is all about rich fruit, supple tannins, and a generous palate that delivers both impact and approachability.

Sourced from carefully selected vineyards in the Barossa’s warmer sites, the fruit is picked for ripeness and concentration, then fermented in stainless steel and aged in a mix of French and American oak to build structure and spice. The winemaking leans toward accessibility without sacrificing depth, offering a plush and expressive wine that’s ready to drink now but has the bones to hold a few years in the cellar.

In the glass, it opens with aromas of blackberry, dark plum, vanilla, cocoa and black pepper. The palate is full bodied and velvety, with juicy black fruit, mocha, cloves and a hint of licorice. Soft tannins and sweet oak round out the wine, giving it a warming, generous finish.

Food pairing: ideal with barbecued meats, beef and mushroom pie, lamb shoulder with rosemary, or a smoky eggplant stew. Also great with aged cheddar or a wedge of blue cheese.