Ranked #13 of 18 2001 Shiraz from Barossa Valley
89/100
3.5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Deep red colour with a slight tinge of purple; minty, menthol-like aromas dominate. The palate is full-bodied and dense, grippy and bold, with big flavour as well as acid and oak still very evident. The acid seems a tad overdone.
Tasted: 25/05/2016
Drink: 2016 to 2023
98 Points Robert Parker
Produced from yields of 1.2 tons of fruit per acre, the 2001 Shiraz Octavius spent 20 months in both French and American oak. A blockbuster, structured Shiraz with oodles of personality/soul, it offers a sumptuous bouquet as well as flavors of chocolate, white flowers, blackberry and cassis liqueur, prunes, figs, roasted meats, and burning embers. This full-bodied, hugely extracted, monster Shiraz has amazing balance and symmetry for its large-scaled style. It needs another 1-3 years of cellaring, and should last for 12-20 years, based on the longevity of some earlier examples. For instance, a gorgeous 1994 Octavius, drunk in 2004, had a decade of life remaining. A 1966 Shiraz/Cabernet The Signature tasted next to it, was still in spectacular shape.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Robert M. Parker, Jr. October, 2004
96 Points James Halliday
Excellent black cherry and blackberry fruit, bright and still fresh; the oak in relative restraint; supple mouthfeel, flavour without excess alcohol. Drink to 2016.
Source: James Halliday. October, 2005
Produced from yields of 1.2 tons of fruit per acre, the 2001 Shiraz Octavius spent 20 months in both French and American oak. A blockbuster, structured Shiraz with oodles of personality/soul, it offers a sumptuous bouquet as well as flavors of chocolate, white flowers, blackberry and cassis liqueur, prunes, figs, roasted meats, and burning embers. This full-bodied, hugely extracted, monster Shiraz has amazing balance and symmetry for its large-scaled style. It needs another 1-3 years of cellaring, and should last for 12-20 years, based on the longevity of some earlier examples. For instance, a gorgeous 1994 Octavius, drunk in 2004, had a decade of life remaining. A 1966 Shiraz/Cabernet The Signature tasted next to it, was still in spectacular shape. Source: Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) October, 2004 by Robert Parker