Tyrrell's Wines - Hunter Valley Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2021 Vat 8 Shiraz/Cabernet is made from 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (from McLaren Vale). The two grape varieties were aged separately in small French oak barrels (225 liters), then blended in November 2021 before being returned to oak barrels for an additional five months. Even a small amount of Cabernet can make a noticeable difference in flavor and structure, and here, with 40% sourced from McLaren Vale, the impact is significant. The wine is smooth, concentrated, and nuanced, with the Hunter Valley’s refined, refreshing, and mineral characteristics in the Syrah component (blood plum, pomegranate, and a tapestry of fine, flavorful tannins) and abundant leafy fruit, blackcurrant, and firm tannins from the McLaren Vale Cabernet component. The two complement each other perfectly. The elegant 2021 vintage is ideally suited to this blend. It offers more balance and nuance than many Syrah-Cabernet blends produced here in Australia, and for that reason, it is all the better. 2023–2041

James Suckling

About the wine:

A young red wine with a light mouthfeel and concentrated aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry, and cherry, with a hint of spice. Medium to full-bodied. Creamy texture. Ready to drink or suitable for aging. Screw cap.

The Wine Front

About the wine:

A blend of Hunter Shiraz (60%) and McLaren Vale Cabernet. A bit of a curiosity in Tyrrell’s portfolio, but one with a history and pedigree. By the way, I think the Hunter Valley and McLaren Vale pair well together. Rich, with black fruit, black olive, a hint of licorice, and anise. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, ripe with red and black fruit; a smooth wine with deep flavors, a slightly earthy character, and very fine, well-integrated tannins that linger on a long finish. Impressive.

James Halliday - Wine Companion

About the wine:

First created in 1962 by the late Murray Tyrrell, I remember very well discussing this wine with Murray and my two other partners at Brokenwood. The Hunter Valley Shiraz (60%) and McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) were aged separately in new barrels, then blended and returned to oak barrels for an additional five months. The 2021 vintage was magnificent in McLaren Vale, and its 40% contribution accounts for the deeper color, higher alcohol, and more tannic structure of a wine that stands apart from Tyrrell’s other top-tier wines and requires extended bottle aging.