2025 Head Old Vine Shiraz

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

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Sale price$38.00
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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 2025 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.

96 points
"If you love Barossa Valley Reds, this is for you and it represents brilliant value. Soft in texture but chock full of flavour."
- Ken Gargett (Wine Pilot)

96 points - "For this vintage, Alex found that he had a surfeit of options. 2025 was a good year for the older vines. From Ebenezer, planted in the 1950s, the Mengler’s Hill Block 8B and 12, which were planted in the 1960s, and the Mattschloss Trial Hill Vineyard planted in the 1940s, Alex has crafted this wine. He included a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Ebenezer vineyard as well. Fermentation was in French oak barriques for eleven months, just 10% of them new. It is clear that Alex is very excited with this wine (so he should be). 500 cases made. For me, this was the pick of the latest collection released by Alex. Loved it. Black/opaque purple in colour with a vibrant dark magenta edge. A soft and cuddly style, generous and approachable, aromas weave through chocolate, soy, cloves, mocha, coffee beans, mulberries, plums and licorice. There is fresh acidity running the length and the entire thing is just delicious. If you love Barossa Valley Reds, this is for you and it represents brilliant value. Soft in texture but chock full of flavour. For enjoying over the next ten to fifteen years." - Ken Gargett (Wine Pilot)

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 $31 to $40
Type Red
Body Full Bodied
Variety Shiraz
Country Australia
Region Barossa Valley
Australian State SA
Reviewed By Wine Pilot
Critic Score 96
Alcohol 14.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
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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