89 Points
"The 2006 Shiraz (95%)-Viognier (5%) is purple-colored with an already complex nose of cedar, violets, leather, bacon, and blueberry. Made in a racy style with some elegance, this tasty effort has enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years and should drink well from 2010 to 2018."
Robert Parker, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (USA), February 2009
90 points
"The small amount of Viognier helps to fill out wine's mouthfeel, adding weight to the spice-driven flavours of cracked pepper, licorice, coffee and block olive, finishes long and well structured, with a velvety texture to the tannins."
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Enthusiast, 31 October 2008
95 points
"Striking a fine balance between brambly, if slightly confectionery flavours of raspberries, cherries and dark plums and a smoky, meaty and funky complexity, this firm, bony and savoury blend steadily reveals more earthy, spicy and rustic undertones. It's dusted with a scent of dried herbs, musk and iris, and while its smooth and supple palate might be drying and grippy, it still delivers plenty of vibrant black and red berry fruit."
Jeremy Oliver, The Australian Wine Annual 2009
"This is a deliriously exciting, spicy Yarra Valley red with an ethereal, lifted fragrance."
Tyson Stelzer, Style, September 2008
94 points
“Typical bright hue; a highly fragrant bouquet leaps out of the glass; finely structured, with extreme length to the spicy fruits and subtle oak.”
James Halliday’s Wine Companion 2009
"Spicy but quite firm. The fruit weight struggles with the tannins."
Winewise, February 2008
"Rhône-inspired wine with complex, layered aromas, fine tannins across a detailed textural palate, with flavours of plum, berry and chocolate, fresh through to the finish."
Nick Stock, Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine, 1 January 2008
Recommended
"A vibrant red fruits/pepper/spice style with slightly toasty oak. The palate is well structured but could be longer."
Winewise, 25 December 2007
"Rich, ripe, spicy, berry fruit aromas. Soft, round, fruit palate with cleansing tannins and sweet oak."
Winestate, Shiraz Blends, 1 December 2007
92 points
"Dark berry, smoky bacon, herbal and spice notes. Starts lean but unfolds with array of flavours."
Ken Gargett, Courier Mail, 10 November 2007
"Again, classic scents of olive, plum and smokey bacon. The viognier addition moderates those strong tannins, adding a little succulence to the lingering damson and plum flavours. Top class food wine, the perfect Christmas treat."
Helen Coburn, ShelfLife (Ireland), November 2007
94 points
"De Bortoli's trademark sweet and lifted nose, red and dark berries, some dark spices, a quietly complex wine with plenty of lift and layered aromas. Fine tannins, depth and texture here, a detailed wine with ripe plum and berry flavour, chocolate-like tannins that lift through the finish."
Nick Stock, WBM100, October 2007
"This is a deliriously exciting wine with so much goût de terroir it is frankly astounding. Layer coats of Shiraz and Viognier varnish until you have a craft so streamlined it is capable of winning the America’s Cup. It is remarkable that a wine can be so dark, so spicy and yet simultaneously so ethereally lifted and fragrant. De Bortoli has mastered this blend already - the fine tuning that is happening year on year is advancing delight and excitement faster than any other operations in the business."
Matthew Jukes & Tyson Stelzer, Taste Food & Wine 2008
92 points
"Inky purple. Vibrant, spice-accented blackberry and cassis aromas offer impressive clarity and thrust. Deeply concentrated but energetic, with youthfully tangy dark berry skin flavors complemented by cracked pepper, licorice and espresso. Silky tannins carry through the long, juicy finish. This could easily be confused for a top-notch northern Rhone wine."
Josh Raynolds , Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar ( USA ), July/August 2007
95 points
"I like the new labels. I like the new vintage and I love what De Bortoli are doing with shiraz. This seems to be a further refinement and improvement in style. The acidity is finer and less obvious than the previous vintage and it falls more towards a medium bodied style…or maybe that is just the nature of the vintage.
Aromas of cherry, red fruits, cracked pepper, spices, aniseed and vanilla cream. It is all going on here and I am happy to say the viognier presents only as a subtle perfumed lift. On the palate medium bodied with red berries, cherry, spice and meaty peppery flavours. It has crisp acidity and light dry chalky tannins and plenty of textural interest. Finishes dry and spicy with great length of flavour. Charismatic, engaging and it drinks like a champion."
Gary Walsh, Winorama (www.winorama.com.au), 19 September 2007
Yarra Valley Estate Grown Shiraz Viognier 2006, January 1970
