'96 Points - Erin Larkin - Wine Advocate

Firmer, more muscular and a wee bit darker than the 4 Acres, the 2022 Johnno's Shiraz hails from the eponymous vineyard, planted in 1908 on sandy alluvial soils. The style here is a slight shift sideways from the 4 Acres (no surprise given the differing vineyards), and here, we see clarity of fruit akin to a glass-bottom boat. There are notes of redcurrant and pomegranate, raspberry and red apple skin. This is superb. It's a matter of preference, and I believe I myself preferred the 4 Acres last year: the beauty of single-vineyard offerings is the seasonal variation—we observe what the vines are capable of each passing year. The clarity and poise of the fruit is just so appealing, so attractive. The tannins give depth and gravitas to the otherwise ethereal fruit, making for a glass of wine that offers both sides of the coin... pleasure and seriousness. This matured in new French oak cask for 14 months. 3,600 bottles filled. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.