2023 Tyrrell's Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet

98 pts
A fuller, darker Hunter red that shows off the best of Shiraz and Cabernet from a family with serious pedigree.

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Description

Vat 8 has long been one of the Hunter’s go-to reds for the cellar - a regional classic that brings Shiraz and Cabernet together in a way that feels distinctly Australian. The 2023 continues that line, with fruit drawn from some of Tyrrell’s best estate vineyards.

Shiraz leads the blend, giving plushness and spice, while Cabernet brings structure and a bit of grip through the finish. It’s aged in small French oak barrels (225L), enough to add polish without smothering the fruit. The result is a fuller, more brooding style than the estate’s flagship Shiraz, but still unmistakably Hunter.

Made to age, but approachable now with a decant, it’s a reliable, smartly built red from one of the country’s most enduring winemaking families. The kind of bottle that holds its own in any cellar line-up, year after year.

98 points
"Powerful and assertive... ripe mulberries, chocolate, fragrant anise, and spice... plentiful, papery tannins, setting the wine up for a long future."
- Toni Paterson (Halliday Wine Companion)

97 points - "A classic Australian blend with a multi-regional twist: 65/35% Hunter Valley shiraz/McLaren Vale cabernet sauvignon. The wine is powerful and assertive, with a glorious, bright, deep colour. Bursting with ripe mulberries, chocolate, fragrant anise, and spice, displaying a good mix of richness and freshness. Supporting the fleshy palate is a defined frame of plentiful, papery tannins, setting the wine up for a long future." - Toni Paterson (Halliday Wine Companion)

Vineyard
The 2023 vintage continues the theme of returning to historical roots, with Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet presented as a multi-regional blend. Shiraz is sourced from premium parcels on the Tyrrell Estate, ‘Ashmans’, while the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from an old vine, super-premium parcel in McLaren Vale. The 2023 blend consists of 65% Shiraz and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vintage Conditions
Spring 2022 brought abundant rainfall, providing excellent soil moisture leading into the dry months of December and January. The harvest was stress-free with no significant heat or rain events. This vintage yielded well balanced, complex wines with notable fruit purity and is considered an exceptional Hunter Valley year.

Winemaker’s Notes
After fermentation in stainless steel vats, both varietal parcels were matured separately and blended in November 2023. The final blend completed maturation in French oak barriques before bottling in April 2024.

Tasting Notes
A modern interpretation of the Great Australian Red, blending varietals to create a more rounded wine. Dark, dense purple in colour. The palate is creamy and rich, combining intense fruit with tannin power. Shiraz brings dark fruit sweetness and spice, while Cabernet contributes blue fruit intensity, varietal cedar, and structured tannins—delivering balance and complexity.

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Full Bodied
Variety Shiraz
Country Australia
Region Hunter Valley
Australian State NSW
Feature High Score
Iconic
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 98
Alcohol 14%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Tyrrell's

Established in 1858, Tyrrell's, an esteemed family-owned winery, holds a prominent place in Australia's viticultural history. Renowned for exemplary Shiraz, Semillon, and Chardonnay releases, the Tyrrell family safeguards the Hunter Valley's finest and oldest vineyards, upholding a legacy of quality winemaking. Chris Tyrrell, continuing the family tradition, ensures Tyrrell's remains a crucial pillar in the realm of Australian wine.

Embedded in the Hunter Valley's fabric, Tyrrell's, guided by founder Edward Tyrrell, pioneered Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, influencing the iconic Semillon style. Notably, their Vat 1 Semillon, Australia's most-awarded white wine, holds almost 5,500 medals and 330 trophies.

While honoring their heritage, the Tyrrells embrace innovation, staying at the forefront of the dynamic Hunter Valley. Fifth-generation winemaker Chris Tyrrell finds humility in working with his forefathers' vineyards. The family's commitment extends to future generations, evidenced by their participation in Australia's First Families of Wine. Guided by Edward Tyrrell's motto, "Nothing is great unless it is good," the Tyrrell legacy persists, passing the business to successive generations, balancing reverence for the past with a forward-looking perspective.

The Tyrrell family Tyrrell's

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