98 points - "This is a superb release. Simply superb. It’s a bold, powerful, black-fruited wine but it’s laced with graphite and rust-like notes and it runs on forever through the finish. The web of tannin running through the back half of the wine is elite in itself; it’s the perfect anchor to the shipload of fruit flavour. Peppercorn, saltbush, cedarwood, earth and smoked olive notes play minor roles; everything else is major. This is an epic Barossa shiraz." - Campbell Mattinson

97 points - "From a single vineyard planted in the Barossa back in 1983. Do not let the fun label and irreverent name fool you. This is serious wine. And seriously good wine. An opaque centre with a bright crimson rim, this is a mix of red and black fruits, with notes of cassis, spicy touches, tobacco leaves, chocolate, liquorice and coffee beans. The texture is delightfully plush
with real intensity, immaculate balance and great length, finishing with cashmere tannins. The oak integration is superb. One can declare this a twenty-year proposition without hesitation. Love it. Drink now–2045" - Andrew Caillard MW (The Vintage Journal)

97 points - "This is sourced from vines that were planted in 1893. With those older vines, producing wine of real concentration and flavor intensity. Color is quite brilliant with a deeper, darker middle wrapped around with a deeper crimson, purply carrot hue. Has an exotic, almost ethereally engaging aroma of plums and blue fruit notes with a subtle, damp, earthy character just lurking in the background. This is a wine of tremendous intensity and richness, and yet it presents with a high degree of elegance and refinement. And at the moment, it is showing so much youthfulness and vibrancy. Fine chalky tannins integrated with the eighteen months in French oak and the fruit just extends almost effortlessly through to a focused long finish. Outstanding wine." - Ray Jordan (Wine Pilot)

97 points - "An iconic Barossa Valley Shiraz from an excellent vintage, maturation is in French oak for around a year and a half, approximately half of that oak new. The fruit is sourced from what the team term the ‘Old Vine Trio’ of vineyards, planted back in 1993, and they focus on the very oldest vines. The wine also enjoys what might be termed a less traditional label. Under cork. Blood red/maroon with a dark purple rim, this is a quintessential big, bold Barossa Shiraz. You will either absolutely adore it, or it may not be for you. I suspect most people will fall into the former category, bewitched by its plushness and the gorgeous nose, which reveals notes of black fruits, cassis, mocha, dried herbs, blackberries, axle grease, licorice and chocolate with excellent oak integration. The structure is seamless and yet intense, while juicy throughout. There is excellent length, balance and focus. Love it. A thirty-year proposition." - Ken Gargett (Wine Pilot)

The Old Bastard Shiraz is the essence of the Barossa Valley and is a true testament to the history, soils and place that is the Barossa. The oldest vineyards in the Old Vine Trio, with planted in 1893, the Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz is one of Australia’s most collected wines and is considered a benchmark for premium Barossa Shiraz around the world.

VINTAGE CONDITIONS: Winter rainfall for 2021 was 48% above average. The wet winter was welcomed after 3 dry years. Maximum temperatures were below average for the beginning of the growing season; however, the latter half was warmer providing good ripening conditions. A hailstorm on the 28th of October severely damaged some vines, fortunately most recovered and secondary shoots grew however, they were typically less fruitful than primary shoots which resulted in lower yields in some varieties.