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. It only takes a little Cabernet to see the effects on flavor and structure, and here, with a 40% blend from McLaren Vale, the impact is enormous. 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 tangle of fine, savory tannins) and the McLaren Vale Cabernet component’s abundance of leafy fruit and blackcurrant, along with firm tannins. 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, it is all the better. 2023–2041

James Suckling

About the wine:

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

The Wine Front

About the wine:

A blend of Hunter Valley 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 touch 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 on a long finish. Impressive

James Halliday - Wine Companion

About the wine:

First created in 1962 by the late Murray Tyrrell, I vividly remember 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.