Awards & Reviews
A lovely meaty number with charred cherries, sapote and blackberries. Some kalamata olive and black peppercorn spice. A coil of shiso mint and clove studs. There is a waft of violets that peek up from the fuzz of light green leaves. The palate shows some ripe raspberries as well with a chew to the firm tannins that give way to juicy acidity. This is drinking very well for its release. Yes, you could cellar it for another couple of years, but it is in a very sweet spot now. Get your best mates around for some slow cooked pork sliders and chat the night away sipping this in some camp chairs. Elegant and smooth, this is effortless in its execution.
95 points Wine Pilot Shanteh Wale
From a single vineyard in the Barossa, which was planted in 2000, this has a dark magenta hue. Fresh and youthful, there are aromas of raspberries, red apples, spices, florals and red fruits. Seductively textured, this is ripe with soft and cushiony tannins. There is a fine line of acidity which runs the length, which is impressive in itself, and a touch of leather towards the finish. Drink now–2033
92 T H E V I NTAGE J O U RNA L
Vineyard planted in 2000. Interesting that you can’t say Stonewell, which I think is the proper name for the sub-region. Much like Kalimna, I suspect it’s been subject to copyright laws, which is pretty ordinary, not least for Penfolds Kalimna, which likely has not seen a grape from that part of the world in decades. Anyway.
Cherry, poached strawberry, quite a lot of spearmint, brown spices and dark cocoa, an amaro top note. It’s medium-bodied, a lot of squishy red cherry and strawberry, a bit salty and coffee-laced, some orange tang, with chinotto and mint on a finish of solid length. It’s a bit different, though does have a sort of cough medicine quality about it, which is quirky, though not off-putting. A wine of interest.
Rated : 90 Points The Wine Front – Gary Walsh
If Barossa Shiraz is perceived by some as muscular, roughly shaven and with broad shoulders, well, this Single Vineyard Syrah from Yelland & Papps is draped in lacy lingerie elevating its seductive appeal. Woah!
From the Stone Well sub-region of the Barossa, a short drive from Yelland & Papps HQ, the fruit is sourced from vines planted in 2000. Some whole bunches were used in the ferment, but the quantity is unknown (it was 50% in the 2023 release). It sees seasoned oak to ensure the fruit and vineyard shine bright, and they do.
An attractive opening sees blueberries, boysenberries and mulberries fold into one another with ease. Flashes of red currant chime in too. A day on and it builds a Black Forest cake frame with tinges of mocha. Fabulously medium bodied, cherry cola, flaked dark chocolate add further appeal as black tea tannins slide in underneath in stealth mode. Wines like this turn the stereotypical Barossa expression of Shiraz on its head – winning! Michael and Susan Papps say that this wine speaks softly but lingers long. They are spot on. Go here.
Drink to ten years+
94/100 Steve Leszczynski Qwine
Lively spiciness and all-round vibrancy suit the use of the term Syrah. To fully release those gorgeous spices, give it a few swishes or a decant and expect acacia, twig and leaf scents with bramble, black fruits, black olive and spice galore. Follow those spices – aniseed, cinnamon, nutmeg – they will take you to a palate both generous and nicely controlled in firm tannins, displaying just a hint of savouriness amid the dark fruits, cacao and earthy notes. Leafy bunchy notes add a lasting finishing touch.
92 Wine Pilot Jeni Port
This is a wine that captures the Yelland and Papps style absolutely perfectly. It was all hand-picked fruit with a combination of whole clusters and whole berries naturally fermented. There were regular pump-overs before basket pressing, and the aim was to gently extract the fruit characters and then blend in fairly neutral french oak punchings and larger format oak so as not to intrude into what is magnificent fruit quality. Plummy, spicy fruit, a little dark cherry, and a smooth, seamlessly satin-like texture. It’s a marvellous wine, capturing vintage and winemaking style perfectly.
95 Wine Pilot Ray Jordan
Deep, bright purple colour; charred oak and sweetly super-ripe blackberry and medicinal herb aromas. Full bodied and rich, deep and firm, with masses of licorice and slightly bitter herb and char oak flavours, oak making its presence felt, but the finish is balanced. Deep, lush and rich; plenty of oak but it works well.
2025–2039
92/100 The Real Review Huon Hooke
A beauty here, and attractive for its medium weight, satiny texture, pretty perfume and mesh of savoury and spicy elements in a more red fruit orientated profile. Wild raspberry, Italian herbs, sweet turned earth and game meat coincide. One could suggest a naming of ‘Syrah’ for its perfumed, slinky feel. An excellent wine.
94 points WBM Mike Bennie
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