Yalumba Rare & Fine The Octavius

Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz bottle image

Wine Description

Signifying Yalumba’s commitment to Barossa Shiraz, this is a truly individual wine, handcrafted, handmade and matured in fine French oak and Yalumba coopered American octave barrels. These unique barrels, which offered inspiration for the wine’s name, are just one of the many harmonious components in the symphony that is Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz.

Yalumba Clocktower
Yalumba Cooperage
Yalumba Vineyard
Yalumba Barrel Room
Yalumba Museum
Robert and Jess Hill-Smith
Winemaker, Louisa Rose
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Acclaim
The continuing journey of change at the heart of The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz reached a decisive moment in 2010, when the oak maturing regime – a fundamental philosophy behind this particular interpretation of rich Barossa Shiraz – began to shift. Relaxing the new oak influence allows the beauty of the fruit to shine more brightly, and the black heart of this big wine begins to open up. Matured for 20 months in 35% new eight-stave octave barrels made from French and American oak, with the remainder in older French, American and Hungarian oak barrels, it speaks plainly about the challenge of containing big, ripe fruit from old vines. But the big bass notes hum with a seductive resonance, and the balance of components after 15 years is sublime. — Decanter, Apr 2025
"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2010 Shiraz The Octavius offers up expressive notes of warm blackberries, mulberries and black cherries with touches of baking spices, vanilla, mocha and licorice. Full-bodied and generously fruited in the mouth, it balances the warm black fruit and spice flavors with a good backbone of lively acid and a firm level of rounded tannins. It finishes with great length."
— Wine Advocate, Feb 2013
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Multiple Vineyards
Soil composition
Barossa Vineyards
Elevation:
300-1,500 feet
Average Vine Age:
84 years
Certifying Organizations:
ISO14001; Entwine Australia
Sustainability Certification:
EPA Acredited Sustainability Licence
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Winemaking & Aging
Prefermentation Technique:
1-3 days on skins pre fermentation before wild yeast start to ferment
Varietal composition:
100% Shiraz
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Fining agent:
Vegan
Type of aging container:
Barriques and Hogsheads
Type of oak:
French and American
Length of aging before bottling:
23 months
Age of Aging Container:
20 months
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Analytical Data
No relevant data were found.
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Wine Production

The growing season opened with a drier than average winter, followed by an even drier and warmer spring and summer. These conditions produced fewer grapes that were concentrated and full of flavour. Although the season was warm, it was without extremes and the nights were relatively cool, helping to maintain freshness, aromatics and a pristine fruit profile. Matured for 20 months in 42% new French and American octaves, 14% 1 year old French barriques and hogsheads, balance in older French barriques & hogsheads.

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About the Vineyard

Sourced 53% from Eden Valley and 47% from Barossa Valley with an average vine age of 84 years. The Eden Valley Shiraz provides the exotic aromatics and seamless palate structure, while the Barossa Valley Shiraz provides richness, density and concentration.