2022 Barossa Shiraz

94+ points - Andrew Caillard - The Vintage Journal

Deep crimson. Classical choco-berry aromas with panforte notes. Richly flavoured wine with ample dark chocolate, dark berry fruits, plentiful chocolatey tannins and marzipan/cedarwood/touch bourbon new oak notes. Finishes chocolatey firm with a spike of aniseed. Very likeable punter’s wine, rather than a critic’s choice. Drink now or keep, as the elements might fold and integrate further. Drink 2024–2028.

94 points - Steve Leszczynski - QWine

This Tim Smith Shiraz is an Easter wine and by that, I mean it rises up after three days. Be patient, tuck this away or give it a good decant and you’ll be mightily impressed by its metamorphosis. The mere fact that wines like this take time to reveal their true persona highlights that the few minutes on the bench at a wine show not surprisingly yield a result that is not favourable. Wines like this are well-built and will reward with time in the cellar or glass and I’m pleased that I gave it that chance over a few days. An excellent example of Barossa Shiraz, the fruit has restrained power and a helpful hand of some oak that holds the torch for longevity. It opens with scents of smoked Ironbark, chocolate torte, dense plums and dark berry fruit before moving to sweet caramel, latte and sweet oak that wraps itself around dense berries and plums. Add some creamy milk chocolate and a good smattering of baking spices and you have yourself a great drink. Go the journey and you’ll be grinning from ear to ear. Furthermore, this represents excellent value as there are wines at twice the price+ that don’t demonstrate this quality. Go here.