2024 Head Old Vine Shiraz

95 pts
A robust yet elegant Barossa Shiraz sourced from historic vineyards dating back to the 1940s.

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Sale price$40.00
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Description

Alex Head’s 'Old Vine' label is a tribute to the Barossa’s greatest resource: its historic vineyards. While his Single Site releases zoom in on specific blocks, this wine zooms out to capture a broader regional picture, blending fruit from some incredible sites across both the Barossa and Eden Valleys.

For the 2024 vintage, the base is the Riebke Schrapel block in Ebenezer (planted in the 1950s), supported by 1960s plantings on Mengler’s Hill and the high-altitude Mattschoss Trial Hill site (planted in the 1940s). Interestingly, Alex has also included a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon from Moculta and Ebenezer to add a little structural spine to the blend.

The winemaking is all about restraint rather than extraction. Alex uses gentle techniques to ensure the wine retains elegance, ageing it for 11 months in French oak barriques (20% new). The result is a wine that delivers the trademark opulence and sweet fruit richness of old vines, but with a freshness and focus that keeps it vibrant. It is robust, powerful and classically Barossa, yet wonderfully balanced.

95 points
"The aim is refinement rather than ripeness. Alex believes that this is the best of this line that he has yet made, and I can find absolutely no reason not to endorse that wholeheartedly... There is serious intensity for the full length, while the balance is maintained. A fine line of acidity and satiny tannins complete the picture. Enjoy this over the next 15 years. A cracker."
- The Vintage Journal

95 points - "This wine is a blend of fruit from old, dry-grown vineyards from both the Barossa and Eden Valleys, a 70/30 split. Maturation included 20% new oak barriques for 11 months. The wine enjoys the inclusion of 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The aim is refinement rather than ripeness. Alex believes that this is the best of this line that he has yet made, and I can find absolutely no reason not to endorse that wholeheartedly. An inky dark purple/maroon hue, the nose is redolent of chocolate, mocha, coffee beans, liquorice, charcuterie and cassis. Generous to a fault, there is a seductiveness to this wine that is compelling. On the palate, we see more and more chocolate emerging with notes of liqueur cherries. There is serious intensity for the full length, while the balance is maintained. A fine line of acidity and satiny tannins complete the picture. Enjoy this over the next 15 years. A cracker." - The Vintage Journal

We were utterly spoilt for choice in 2024 with many blocks across the Barossa & Eden Valley making a strong statement for inclusion in the ‘Old Vine’ Shiraz. At Ebenezer (Planted 1950s) we used the Riebke Schrapel Block as the base, then Mengler’s Hill Block 8b & 12 (Planted 1960s), Mattschoss Trial Hill (Planted 1940s) and finally a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon from Moculta (Planted 1980) & Ebenezer (Planted 1950). Old Vine is not an exercise in ripeness and we hope the gentler extraction techniques we use help to convey an elegance to our offering. Combine this with 20% new barriques 11 months and the wonderful richness and sweetness of ‘Old Vine’ fruit remains in focus.

Price Bracket $41 to $50
Type Red
Body Full Bodied
Variety Shiraz
Country Australia
Region Barossa Valley
Australian State SA
Size 750ml
Vintage 2024
Closure Screw Cap

Head Wines

Alex Head has had what you might call a meteoric rise through the Australian wine industry. In his short career as a producer he has been heralded as one of the best Young Gun Winemakers, not only in the Barossa but the whole country.

With no formal training as a winemaker, the purity and balance inherent in the wines are amazing.

Alex has a passion for the old vineyards that populate the Barossa. With a keen eye for a good site, Alex has put together a formidable portfolio of vineyards which produce simply outstanding renditions of Shiraz and Grenache year-in, year-out. These are some of the most exciting wines in the Barossa.

Alex in the vines Barossa Valley, SA Head Wines

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