A blend of Hunter Shiraz 60% and McLaren Vale Cabernet. Kind of a curio in the Tyrrell’s portfolio, though one with history and pedigree. I think the Hunter Valley and McLaren Vale sing well together, as an aside.

Rich, black fruit, black olive, a bit of liquorice and aniseed. Medium to full-bodied, ripe with red and black fruit, a smooth ride of deep flavour, and a slightly earthy character, the tannin really fine and massed on a long finish. Impressive.

The 2021 Vat 8 Shiraz / Cabernet is composed of 60% Shiraz and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (from McLaren Vale). The varieties were matured separately in smaller format French oak (225 liters), blended in November 2021 and subsequently returned to oak for a further five months. You only need a little Cabernet to see the effects on both flavor and structure, and here, with a 40% inclusion from McLaren Vale, the impact is huge. The wine is sweet, concentrated and detailed, with fine, cooling, mineral characters from the Hunter Valley in the Syrah component (blood plum, pomegranate and a skein of fine savory tannin) and loads of leafy, blackcurrant fruit and firm (ductile) tannins from the McLaren Vale Cabernet component. The two are dovetailed nicely. The lens of the elegant 2021 vintage is right for this blend. It offers more poise and detail than many of the Shiraz Cabernet blends made here in Australia and is all the better for it.