Yalumba The Caley Coonawarra & Barossa Cabernet & Shiraz 2021 is the greatest wine the Barossa family company has ever made.
This is according to Tyson Stelzer, who made the claim in WBM – Australia’s Wine Business Magazine.
Stelzer gave the wine the ultimate score of 100 points.
The wonderful wine was one of the highlights of the reviews in the March/April edition of WBM.
Yalumba The Caley Coonawarra & Barossa Cabernet & Shiraz 2021
100 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “This is not only the greatest wine to ever emerge from the hallowed halls of Yalumba, it is categorically the finest exemplar of the great Australian blend of the modern era, and the equal of the greatest in history. Kevin ‘KG’ Glastonbury’s relentless fanaticism has fused Coonawarra Cabernet with Barossa Shiraz (26 percent) to perfection, and I use this word very deliberately. While I was not alive at the time of its release, it has perhaps not been since Max Schubert’s legendary 1962 Penfolds Bin 60A that this union has been mastered with such breathtaking harmony. I have bestowed a perfect score on an Australian table wine only once in the past decade, and The Caley 2021 is every bit deserving.” 14.5%. $395.
Clonakilla Canberra District Shiraz Viognier 2024
96 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “Decimated by October frosts, 2024 was a season of intensity and definition at Clonakilla, making for a Shiraz Viognier as characterful and distinctive as ever. Five percent Viognier and 22 percent whole bunches unite to heighten aromatics and spice, building layers of pot pourri and white pepper to a deep core of black cherry, blackberry, liquorice, even hints of black olive. Tannins are at once graceful and confidently firm and fine, promising medium-term endurance.” 14.0%. $130.
Grosset Piccadilly Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2025
96 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “Grosset’s fanatical attentiveness transcends even a season as hot and dry as 2025, and the result is a Chardonnay of poise, detail and beauty. I admire its pale straw green hue, its precise lemon and white peach fruit and its focus of bright natural acidity. Purity and grace are delivered with presence and confidence, magnificent from the outset and with a sure future before it.” 13.2%. $90.
Handpicked Collection Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2024
95 points
Mike Bennie writes, “A finesse here. This Pinot leans into red cherry, cranberry and wild strawberry fuit characters with a dusting of spice and a lash of mixed dried herbs. Silky tannins and a gentle savoury edge carry through a midweight palate. Fresh acidity keeps things lively, finishing with a subtle forest floor whisper. Beauty.” 12.7%. $63.
Penfolds Grange La Chapelle Shiraz Syrah 2022
99 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “As unexpected as this union is on every level, there was something quite profound about its execution in the inaugural 2021 vintage, and its successor is not only a grand declaration that this was no one-off, but indeed an even more coherent and harmonious blend – staggeringly profound for all it represents. Even in its tightly-coiled youth, it presents at once the grace of La Chapelle and the density of Grange, but what really sets this vintage apart is its fine-boned tannin profile of beautifully mineral finesse, and yet is mouthfilling, confident and immensely enduring.” 14.0%. $3,500.
Skillogalee Clare Valley Sparkling Shiraz NV
92 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “The elegant restraint of Shiraz from the high contours of the Skillogalee vineyard is well suited to sparkling, contrasting a core of deep regional satsuma plum, blackberry and black cherry fruit with dark chocolate oak and layers of cool black pepper and spice. Finely structured, neatly balanced tannins promise a medium-term future, set off with just the right level of dosage (21g/L) to not appear sweet.” 13.0%. $40.
Zema Estate Cluny Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot 2021
91 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “The age-old adage of buying the bargain labels of the top producers in the great vintages rings true here. Crunchy, refined, bright and seamless, set to a textbook core of black- and red-currant fruit and cassis, this is a Cabernet blend still looking impressively youthful at four years of age with the firm tannin backbone that calls for further age yet.” 14.5%. $24.
Henschke Hill of Grace Eden Valley Shiraz 2022
99 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “I love the detail and purity that are conveyed by the fanatical work of the Henschkes and it’s presented in heightened realism in the cool and late 2022 harvest. The Hill of Grace signatures of five spice, pristine black fruits and mesmerisingly silky tannins are set against a captivating backdrop of dark fruits of all kinds, enlivened with wonderfully lively acidity. In harmony, flow and eternal persistence, this is benchmark Hill of Grace, with an enduring future spanning half a century before it.” 14.5%. $1,100.
Chapel Hill The Devil McLaren Vale House Block Shiraz 2022
97 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “The third release in the lineage of Chapel Hill’s flagship is another grand tribute to the 1977 vines of the finest site of the estate. This is the essence of McLaren Vale Shiraz, in all of its captivating depth of black fruits of all kinds, subtly blessed with black olives, fresh liquorice and dark chocolate. Lifted violet fragrance, bright acidity and magnificently fine tannins are the signature of Michael Fragos’ art and fanaticism, which have found a new exemplar in this label. The devil is, indeed, in the detail.” 14.5%. $180.
Terre A Terre Crayeres Vineyard Wrattonbully Reserve Cabernet Shiraz 2022
96 points
Mike Bennie writes, “100 percent new oak for this premier release. Dark cherry, dark chocolate, touch of mint and eucalyptus, some white pepper, turned sweet earthiness, sandalwood and clove. All of this marries beautifully and gets tightened with ribs of crushed rock tannin. Exceptional length and shape too. It delivers on a promise of very fine wine.” 14.5%. $90.
Angove Brightlands McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021
95 points
“Juicy and approachable yet set to fuller weight, this red offers up ripe plum, juicy blueberry and a flicker of pepper and earthy clove. Tannins roll through supple, a touch of graphite and smoky minerality in the mix. There’s a brightness to the fruit that keeps things energetic, finishing long and gently palate sticking. Classic stuff.” 14.5%. $125.
Knappstein Enterprise Vineyard Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
95 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “There’s a feeling of intricate engineering to this vintage. Cool, elegant, fine-boned, and unashamedly never more than medium-bodied, this is a Cabernet all about precise scaffolding. I love the way the bright acidity and delicate yet strong tannins of this season reinforce the limestone mineral texture of the Clare, tapped by the deep roots of 1969 vines. It has a long and enduring future before it.” 14.0%. $53.
Angove Angels Rise Vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021
94 points
Mike Bennie writes, “A little judicious maturity here. A rich yet lifted, brooding red with dark and ripe forest berries lashed with sweet spice, choc-mint, ferrous earthiness and pretty violet lift. Tannins are plush, a little grunty, and wel-lintegrated, supporting the generous fruit core. A bold strike with a touch of pleasing benign decay. In the zone.” 13.5%. $50.
Angove Warboys Vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021
94 points
Mike Bennie writes, “A serious red on hand. Dark-fruited with layers of blackberry, plum and black olive coupled to mocha, clove and espresso. Tannins are firm yet polished, framing a plush core and the impressive concentration of the wine. There’s a regional warmth, but it’s tempered by spice and earth, finishing long and quietly powerful. To repeat, serious red.” 14.5%. $50.
Calabria Family Wines Alternato Montepulciano Nero d’Avola 2024
93 points
Mike Bennie writes, “A vibrant, Italianate blend bustling with sour cherry, wild raspberry, blood orange tang and a sprig of dried herbs. Juicy upfront and lightly grippy through the finish, there’s a rustic charm here and yet drinkability is on song. Interesting, quietly complex, something out of the box and good.” 14.0%. $45.
First Ridge Mudgee Fiano 2025
93 points
Mike Bennie writes, “A dictionary definition Fiano with a sense of generosity of ripe, brown skin pear, candied citrus peel, tonic water and a touch of sugared almond. Waxy texture is balanced by fresh acidity, there’s a little grip and pucker to the finish. A savoury element, or suggestions of such, too. Proper and good.” 12.5%. $30.
Jericho Adelaide Hills Fiano 2025
93 points
Mike Bennie writes, “Terrific drinking, is the crib note. Zesty and textural, vibrant with mixed citrus peel, green apple, tonic water and a touch of aniseed. A waxy, almond-like note adds intrigue while a fine powdery grip lends added x-factor to texture. Fresh and vibrant, it carries a savoury edge and yet a refreshing drinkability.” 13.0%. $27.
Skillogalee Clare Valley Riesling 2025
92 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “The cool altitude of the Skillogalee vineyard is always a blessing, and particularly in the warm 2025 season. This sets a low pH that heightens mineral texture and tension to contrast the ripe stone fruit, fig, baked apple, subtle exoticism and dark spice of this generous vintage.” 11.5%. $30.
Longview Queenie Adelaide Hills Pinot Grigio 2025
91 points
Tyson Stelzer writes, “Longview has remained resolutely true to the elegant mandate of Grigio, even in the unprecedented drought of the 2025 season, and consequent earliest and fastest harvest in history. Its signature gentle beurre bosc pear flavour is accented with lemon and a hint of honeysuckle and spice. Cool Adelaide Hills acidity is gently massaged with succulent texture and the most subtle of phenolic grip.” 11.5%. $28.