Ranked #11 of 103 2008 Shiraz from Barossa Valley
95/100
5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Deep dark red colour, with a nice purple tinge. Very rich, chocolaty, fruitcakey and lush on the nose, with mocha/coffee and rum and raisin chocolate. It's full-bodied with very smooth, supple tannins and strongly savoury flavours. Quite full-bodied without being a whopper, it's well-rounded and smoothly integrated with harmony and texture. There's a trace of aniseed. Good length, assisted by abundant savoury, powdery tannins. (The first bottle opened was slightly corked and didn't rate nearly so well)
Tasted: 26/11/2013
Drink: N/A
95 Points Robert Parker
Deep garnet with a hint of purple in the color, the 2008 Octavius Barossa Shiraz displays intense notes of creme de cassis, dried plums and kirsch with hints of meat, smoky bacon fat, soy, black olives, allspice and licorice. Full bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, the concentrated blackberry and savory flavors are nicely structured with a medium to firm level of grainy tannins and enlivening acidity. The finish is very long, layered and complex. Approachable now, it should drink well to 2021+.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. December, 2011
94 Points James Halliday
Deep red-purple, excellent for its age; a dense and powerful wine; the oak is, as ever, the framework for scads of black fruits, and these two components are in balance. It warms up somewhat on the finish, and will benefit from further time in bottle; the quality of the cork is good. Drink to 2028.
Source: James Halliday. October, 2013