Coriole Lloyd Reserve Shiraz 2021

From vines over 100 years old; matured in French oak, about 25% new. This feels the more ‘traditional’ of the 2021 reserve shiraz bottlings, with a typically dense core of dark fruits adorned with star anise, bitter chocolate, laurel, brewed coffee, turned earth and a gentle but apparent sheen of oak. It’s a powerful wine with substantial tannin, but the evolving stewardship of the younger Lloyds has been fine-tuning the portfolio for a little while now, with this suitably refined, if perhaps appealing to drinkers with a little nostalgia for headier times. Either way, it’s a keenly crafted and balanced wine of place. 96 points, drink 2024-2036, Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion.