2008 Langmeil "Valley Floor" Shiraz Barossa Valley South Australia (Elsewhere $30)

SKU #1122475 93 points James Halliday

Opaque purple-red; a luscious rich and ripe (but not overripe) medium- to full-bodied Barossa shiraz, the plum, blackberry and prune flavours augmented by well integrated mocha/vanilla oak (12/ 2009)

92 points Wine Enthusiast

*Editor's Choice* A terrific value in Barossa Shiraz, Langmeil’s 2008 Valley Floor bottling features bold oak-fruit styling without ever seeming jammy. It’s full bodied but not unstructured, with mulberries and toasted coconut upfront yet a fresh, savory finish framed by dusty tannins. Drink now--2018. (2/ 2012)

91 points James Suckling

Intense aromas of blackberries, currants and hints of sweet tobacco. Full bodied, and chewy with loads of fruit and new wood. Needs time to come together. A little hot, but it's what you expect from an outstanding Barossa Valley red. (2/ 2011)

90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Bright ruby. Spicy cherry and black raspberry on the nose, with complicating notes of incense and dried rose. Sappy and expansive, offering lively red and dark berry flavors and a late note of white pepper. Packs a lot of flavor into a lithe package and finishes with impressive clarity and spicy persistence. (8/ 2010)

89 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2008 Valley Floor Shiraz comes from vines averaging 40-50 years of age and was matured for two years in French oak, mainly hogsheads, 20% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, it’s very fruit forward on the nose with intense warm blackberry, cassis and warm raspberry aromas plus nuances of licorice, Indian spices and vanilla. Full, rich and crisp in the mouth, it gives firm, fine tannins and a long juicy berry finish. Drinking now it should remain fresh to 2015. (12/ 2010)

Jancis Robinson

Mid crimson with a pale rim. Very sweet and ripe on the nose. Sun baked! But not horribly exaggerated. Umami! Tannins very well managed. (9/ 2012)