TN: 1990 Yalumba Octavius Shiraz

[Waiters Friend]

I believe the name comes from the use of small (90L) barrels as compared to barriques or puncheons. Decanted about 6 hours before service.

The first impressions for many people around the table was leather. This got refined further (as you do on NYE) to either 'university library' or 'so saddle-like you could ride it'. I preferred the first analogy. There's also milk chocolate, dried herbs, especially oregano, and some eucalypt and spices.

The palate was brambly, with noticeable tannins (although well integrated, and in no way clunky), and an almost velvety mouthfeel. A reasonably long finish. A very interesting wine indeed - it's not often I look at wines from last century.

Cheers
Allan

[Mike Hawkins]

Save for the oak,I quite like this wine (my mum’s favourite vintage). Behind the oak is some excellent fruit

[Waiters Friend]

"Behind the oak is some excellent fruit". Not anymore - it has well and truly moved into savoury characters now, after 29 years.

[Mike Hawkins]

"Behind the oak is some excellent fruit". Not anymore - it has well and truly moved into savoury characters now, after 29 years.

Good to hear... I’m planning to share one with oldies in March

[Mahmoud Ali]

Sounds like an excellent outcome to a wine that has received some criticism for the oak treatment. Would the 1990 Octavius be either the first or second vintage of the wine? I seem to recall that my bottle of the 1996 has the roman numeral VI or VII on the label.

Mahmoud.

[Waiters Friend]

Sounds like an excellent outcome to a wine that has received some criticism for the oak treatment. Would the 1990 Octavius be either the first or second vintage of the wine? I seem to recall that my bottle of the 1996 has the roman numeral VI or VII on the label.

Mahmoud.

Mahmoud, I was advised (by the owner of the bottle) that the 1990 is the first vintage of Octavius.

[Mike Hawkins]

I vaguely recall there was an 88. I think 90 was the first release of The Reserve.

[n4sir]

Sounds like an excellent outcome to a wine that has received some criticism for the oak treatment. Would the 1990 Octavius be either the first or second vintage of the wine? I seem to recall that my bottle of the 1996 has the roman numeral VI or VII on the label.

Mahmoud.

Mahmoud, I was advised (by the owner of the bottle) that the 1990 is the first vintage of Octavius.

I vaguely recall there was an 88. I think 90 was the first release of The Reserve.

Mike is right. The first vintage of Octavius was a 1988 Connawarra Cabernet Sauvignon!

There was no 1989 vintage, and from 1990 onward it has been Barossa Shiraz.

[Mahmoud Ali]

In a way they're both right. The first Octavius, the cabernet, may have been a 1988 but the first Octavius Shiraz is the 1990.

Certainly interesting to hear that the first attempt at this oak treatment was with a cabernet. I wonder what was behind the decision to abandon it in favour of shiraz. Whatever the reason it could account for the one year gap. One could assume that they made a cabernet wine in 1989 and partway through thought better of it and switched to shiraz in 1990. It would be interesting to find out.

[Ian S]

Save for the oak,I quite like this wine (my mum’s favourite vintage). Behind the oak is some excellent fruit

Yes interesting to see how a wine nicknamed 'Oaktavius has developed over 3 decades.