Lone Palm Old Vine Shiraz 2023 Review: Structured Now, Better with Time?
Lone Palm’s Old Vine Shiraz arrives with clear intent on the label, including cellaring guidance that points toward patience over immediacy. Tasted young, the 2023 release presents as a wine still settling into itself, shaped by architecture and progression more than easy generosity. This is not an Old Vine Shiraz chasing early charm. It asks for attention, context, and possibly time.
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Vintage: |
2023 |
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Region: |
Barossa Valley, South Australia |
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Varietal: |
Shiraz |
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ABV: |
14.5% |
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RRP: |
~$60 AUD |
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Format: |
750mL |
Appearance
In the glass, the wine shows a deep, dark red core with a clean rim and strong opacity. Despite the producer’s description of a purple hue, the colour reads as ripe and composed, suggesting concentration without excessive extraction. Clarity is excellent, reinforcing a sense of control rather than weight.
Aroma / Nose
At rest, the nose is restrained, offering little immediate fruit or perfume. Oak sits quietly in the background.
With air, oak becomes more prominent and carries a subtle sweetness. Fruit remains dark and measured, never leaping from the glass. The overall impression is reserved and deliberate, hinting at structure before flavour.
Palate / Taste
On entry, a fleeting impression of sweetness appears at the tip of the tongue, suggestive of ripe blackberry. This impression never develops into overt sweetness. The wine quickly shifts into shape and tension.
Mid-palate weight builds through firm, cheek-gripping tannins, with oak integrated into the frame rather than leading it. As the wine moves back, acidity and alcohol assert themselves, finishing with controlled warmth at the back of the throat. The progression feels intentional, fruit opening the conversation before structure takes control.
Finish
The finish is defined by tannin and warmth, with fruit fading sooner. Length sits in the moderate-to-long range, drying but composed. It leaves a food-oriented impression that encourages pause and pairing instead of immediate re-sipping.
Food Pairing
With Edam, the wine softened noticeably. The cheese’s mild creaminess rounded the tannins, brought berry notes forward, and helped integrate the alcohol more smoothly.
English truffle cheddar was less successful. The pairing introduced bitterness and misaligned flavours, exposing the wine’s structural edges.
Persian fetta produced an interesting but tense interaction. Savoury elements were drawn out of the cheese, while oak and acidity lifted sharply. Engaging, but not comforting.
Prosciutto proved the most calming match. Salt and fat pulled fruit to the front of the palate and smoothed the wine’s progression, though acidity lifted slightly on the swallow. Overall, this pairing felt the most cohesive.
ATC Verdict: Is It Worth the Splurge?
At this stage, the Lone Palm Vineyard Old Vine Shiraz 2023 feels considered rather than generous. It leads with backbone and tension, allowing fruit to introduce the palate before stepping aside. Alcohol is present but controlled, contributing warmth without tipping into heat.
We would drink it again, but selectively and with the right dish. Cellaring feels not only plausible but sensible, with time likely to soften edges and bring greater cohesion. As opened, it was worth the experience for what it revealed, even if it feels more promising than complete today.
Structured, deliberate, and better with patience than haste.
Editor’s Note
This bottle was opened young and tasted across a mixed table rather than alongside a single, purpose-built dish. In that setting, the wine consistently favoured shape and restraint, responding best to salt and fat while pushing back against bitterness and acidity. The impression left was not of a wine falling short, but one arriving earlier than intended.
Adrian, Editor at All That Is Cool
Please drink responsibly.
All alcohol reviews on All That Is Cool are intended for audiences aged 18+. We support mindful, moderate consumption and only feature bottles we’ve personally tasted and evaluated.
