This is named for the small octaves coopered from French and American oak at Yalumba and used for aging half of the lot (the other half ages in used French oak barriques and hogsheads). The fruit is more Eden Valley than Barossa, selected from vines with an average age of 96 years. Those vines thrived in the relatively moderate conditions of 2012, producing fruit with flavors that keep unfolding through the wine in layers of silk. While the small barrels lend this wine a lot of French oak richness, the fruit is more powerful, or maybe it’s the texture and structure that dominates, creating a sense of refinement in the midst of tremendous flavor intensity. It feels cool and generous, not suppressed by weight but energized by bright touches of volatility and spice. This is one of the best vintages of Octavius Kevin Glastonbury has produced.
95 pts Wine & Spirits