Starling Barossa Valley Shiraz 2022

The Barossa Valley's unique terroir creates Shiraz with exceptional depth and character, thanks to its warm climate and ancient soils. This 2022 vintage showcases the region's signature style with bold blackberry and plum flavours enhanced by cedar notes from oak maturation. The full-bodied palate weight delivers the classic Barossa intensity that made the region famous worldwide.

Serve this Shiraz at 16-18°C to allow the complex blackberry and cedar notes to shine through properly. Decanting for 30-60 minutes will help soften the tannins and open up the savoury characteristics. The textured, full-bodied nature pairs beautifully with grilled meats, aged cheeses, or hearty stews where the wine's boldness can complement rich flavours.

This 2022 vintage is drinking beautifully now, showing excellent fruit integration with its cedar and savoury elements. While Barossa Shiraz can age gracefully for 8-12 years, this wine's approachable style and balanced tannins make it perfect for immediate enjoyment. If you do choose to cellar it, expect the plum and blackberry flavours to develop more complexity over the next 3-5 years.

The wine's savoury profile and cedar notes make it an excellent match for barbecued lamb, beef brisket, or mushroom-based dishes. The blackberry and plum flavours complement game meats like venison or duck, while the full-bodied texture stands up to rich, aged cheeses like vintage cheddar. Even spicy cuisines with paprika or black pepper work well with this bold Barossa style.

Textured refers to the wine's substantial mouthfeel and tannin structure that gives it weight and presence on the palate. The savoury elements balance the ripe blackberry and plum fruit with earthy, herbal, and spice notes that add complexity. This combination creates a wine that's not just about sweet fruit flavours but offers layers of taste that evolve as you drink it, typical of quality Barossa Shiraz.