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We opened the 2023 Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz over a long, rainy winter’s lunch—a day made for red wine. The mood called for something bold and comforting, and with its Barossa pedigree and 15% heft, we expected warmth, fruit, and power.
Château Yaldara Grand Cuvée Shiraz 2021 is one of the most expensive bottles we’ve opened to date—and it knows it. This Barossa Valley Shiraz arrives dressed for attention, with a bold black label, deep glass, and 15% ABV that hints at both power and polish. It leads with presence, and leans hard into its prestige cues. But does the experience go deeper than the design?
Penfolds Max’s Shiraz 2022 carries a quiet reverence within its uniform red-capsule bottles—an homage to Max Schubert, the original creator of Grange. It arrives with understated visual cues, but a reputation that nudges expectations upward. After recently tasting the Shiraz Cabernet from the same range, we approached this bottle with curiosity.