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Wine Type Vintage Name Variety Locale Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More...
Red

2022 Agricola Vintners Kalimna Sands

 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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5/3/2024 - IamNotDrinkingAny#@!%Merlot wrote: 90 points

Maybe the worst value ever in such a highly rated wine. A nice wine but really nothing special.

Pass, unless <$25.

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Red

2022 Agricola Vintners Kalimna Sands

 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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4/20/2024 - Muz wines Likes this wine: 97 points

Exceptional Shiraz. One that flys well under the radar.

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Red

2022 Agricola Vintners Theel's Handfibel

 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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4/10/2024 - Cbanks wrote: NR

SWIG - A blend of Ebenezer - from the Hoffman Dallwitz block vineyard that goes into Sami-Odi's wine - and the 158 year old vines of Asbroek's "Ancient" block (1864 vines), that has been historically tightly held by St. Hallett for decades as a core component of their Old Block Shiraz. Both outlined above. The label is an old alphabet chart from from the 1880s from a local school. Still settling into itself, this is a phenomenal blend of these two great, historical vineyards.
2436 bottles made 13.5% alc. Drink now to 2045.

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Red

2022 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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4/10/2024 - Cbanks wrote: NR

SWIG - The 2022 Flaxman Valley Syrah is sourced from three vineyards that are East facing, and cooler than many spots in Barossa, and wetter: his family's old-vine home block which is over 100 years old, a steep hillside vineyard on their neighbour's property around 500 metres above sea level and Chris Ringland's vineyard next door, that had been decimated by a serve hail storm but Callum was able to handpick what he could - some of south Australia's highest lying vines.
With Callum’s unwavering local knowledge of the land and the three single vineyard plots used, shows how much precision is taken when making these wines. This is definitely more Syrah than Shiraz. Black pepper, olive tapenade, fennel seeds, bitter herbs, tea and brush, with a salinity, all dancing on top of cool black fruits. Fluidity on the palate is matched with lightly grippy tension and a lifted finish.
1968 bottles made 13.2%. Drink 2023-2047.

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Red

2022 Agricola Vintners Theel's Handfibel

 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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1/4/2024 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 94 points

I will be very cautious about 2022 wines from pretty much anywhere in SE Oz but they may offer something interesting in commonly hotter areas like the Barossa. The vintage was basically cool, cloudy and damp. Cool in the Barossa is a relative term.

I read some interesting things about this maker, including pedigree in the region and also a commitment to making wines expressive of their place and variety. They offer 3-4 wines, in very small quantities, all are Shiraz, all are 100% whole bunch and oak is very limited - about 10% new oak in this wine, in some others there is no new oak at all. This wine is a combination of several sites and features an extremely attractive and intriguing label.

I was reading some Hemmingway Spanish Civil War stuff whilst I drank this and like the wine this was strong, beautifully crafted, memorable stuff. I was also put in mind of a friend of Hemmingway's in Spain, the former Saxon nobleman and WW1 veteran, author and art expert, Ludwig Renn. There is something enigmatic about this wine as there was about Renn and there is also something joyous and Bohemian, also like Renn.

Renn had been imprisoned following the Nazis rise and as soon as he was released he went straight to Spain to join the fight, despite knowing what capture would mean for him. There is the uncompromising boldness of the man in this wine.

This is a massive wine as you open it. There are ripe plums and some blackberry but a wonderful black pepper, roast meats and - if you like it- dark chocolate along with a lovely lick of crushed leaves and green tea. Tannins are certainly present, but they are supple and tasty. You don't often get these kind of tannins in Oz. The nose also has a gorgeous lift to it.

Barossa with complexity and verve. Memorable. Like Hemmingway and Renn.

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Red

2022 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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12/1/2023 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 93 points

This wine inspires me to go all Byzantine on yo ass boy.

Much about this wine reminds me of Basil II Boulgaroktonos, the austere yet burly religious fanatic and brutal military emperor of the 10th and 11th Century AD. Basil II, of course was a descendant of the wonderfully named Romanos Lekapenos - the school-boy humorist never really dies.

This is a wine made from the Flaxman Valley, 'soaring' a full few hundred meters above the Barossa Valley floor. This does actually make a difference, though it is relative - when it is 40 degrees Celsius on the Barossa Valley floor, Flaxman may be a balmy 37-38 degrees Celsius.

Flaxman, I note has a population of some 285 people, yet has an exactly even distribution of gender; however do they manage that? More pleasing is that over half described themselves as having no religion in the recent census. As an atheist every bit as intolerant as Basil II was as a Christian (it is the religion of peace and love, as history has shown), I am excited by the prospect of dealing with the recalcitrant minority.

Deep of hue, this wine promises to deliver like the scowling Basil and his triumphant cataphracts, mowing down the Bulgars.

Like Basil, this wine delivers on its threats/promises. The nose and palate are dominated by smokey, charcuterie stuff, there is some black pepper and loam and a whole lotta love in the form of dark plums and blackberry. There is, to me, a distinct sour aspect that works because it stops this from being one of those Barossa mouth coating obscenities, worse even than Monophysites, recalcitrant Bulgars, Georgians, Khazars, Turks and those troublesome Anatolian magnates.

I believe that I would hate this wine if I had it from a warmer year, but a cooler one like 2022, or 2023, does the trick.

Intensity and length are akin to the visage of Basil - "He had light-blue eyes, strongly arched eyebrows, luxuriant side whiskers—which he had a habit of rolling between his fingers when deep in thought or angry". Don't we all.

I have to say that I think you get a lot of wine and good stuff for your dollars here. Even in a cooler year and from a higher elevation it is still very Barossa and I do think there is a question can be asked about all the (probably oak derived) charcuterie - the oak really rolls its luxuriant side whiskers between its fingers.

It does not really describe this wine, but it does describe me, when JJ Norwich wrote of Basil II, one of history's real genocidal heroes, "No lonelier man ever occupied the Byzantine throne. And it is hardly surprising: Basil was ugly, dirty, coarse, boorish, philistine and almost pathologically mean. He was in short deeply un-Byzantine. He cared only for the greatness of his Empire. No wonder that in his hands it reached its apogee." Finally, I am home.

Lest there be any misunderstanding, I find Basil II one of those characters that rather brings history alive, but I do not think he was a 'great man'. Even for a species that delights in cruelty and attempts to extirpate 'out groups', Basil is up there with the great shits of history. This wine is surely not of that type.

Musical accompaniment for this wine, like Basil II, must be Manowar's 'Power of Thy Sword', whose sentiments are like mother's milk to any heroic Agricola Vintners drinker and serial misanthrope:

Fierce is my blade, fierce is my hate
Born to die in battle, I laugh at my fate
Now pay in bond when your blood has been spilled
You're never forgiven death is fulfilled

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Red

2022 Agricola Vintners Kalimna Sands

 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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11/18/2023 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 93 points

The esteemed Mike Bennie (may the sun never set on his stiffy) wrote one of those reviews where one just felt compelled to try the wine. I was also attracted by the personal resonance of the Kalimna bitty of the Barossa and the promise of a cooler vintage offering some balance to the usual baked fruit Barossa bombast.

On first opening I was moderately repelled by the obvious mocha and dark chocolate notes, two things that set this drinker on edge even more than a 'new' Beatles song featuring a collective of the long dead and the soon to be.

However, I am like a Boddhisatva of Wine and drawing on my wisdom I had opened this at mid-day in case it needed time to settle. Entering the dojo of the jaded guzzler about 6 hours and 43 wanks later this wine had grown into itself and was a danger to my health it was so dashed, well, guzzleable. Letting go being a key Buddhist precept, I did let go and guzzled without restraint. This Buddhism lark is really quite good.

Once it gets over its initial naughtiness, this shows the expected inky hue but it is the wonderful, vibrant blackberry (not jammy or baked) and black pepper and spice with a touch of leaf that cause one to lose control. The other thing I find attractive are the tannins - these are ripe, textural, that wonderful combination of sweet and bitter that the Italians do so well.

I probably should score this at 'Outstanding' but I will hold off because of that initial hit of mocha and dark chocolate. They remain in the background but there is so much else to enjoy that I can almost forgive them. That is allegedly a Christian precept, but then as most its practitioners are about as fraudulent as I am as a Buddhist, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

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Red

2020 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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11/4/2023 - theaccidentalcellar Likes this wine: 95 points

Hint of capsicum early, but given a decant and consumed across 4.5h. Green strawberries that tended towards blackberries as it opened. Peppery and savoury. Hint of charcuterie. Very light (11.6%), atypical and wonderful.

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Red

2021 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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1/24/2023 - kostaslonis wrote: NR

Austalia Trade Tasting (Lindley Hall, Royal Horticultural Halls): Quite herbal, stalky, red fruit, big juicy palate, spicy, light tannins, freshness, light and easy, nice

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Red

2021 Agricola Vintners Ebenezer

 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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1/24/2023 - kostaslonis Likes this wine: NR

Austalia Trade Tasting (Lindley Hall, Royal Horticultural Halls): Shiraz, big black fresh fruit, juicy, floral notes, spice notes
Big fresh juicy, beautiful tannins, rich, great texture, long finish

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Red

2021 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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8/11/2022 - CamWheeler wrote: 91 points

Post Barolo with Bill & Crew: Blind. Peppery, vanilla, redcurrant and violets on the nose. Palate straddles the line nicely between sweet and savoury. Well composed and lots to like here - a step up from the 2020.

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Red

2020 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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6/5/2022 - CamWheeler wrote: 89 points

Post MW Bordeaux Tasting: Meaty, herbal and floral on the nose. Light red fruits and herbs on the palate, I don't mind it to drink but it definitely verges on under-ripe depending on your taste.

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Red

2021 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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9/30/2022 - A_Steady Likes this wine: 95 points

Very nice juice

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Red

2021 Agricola Vintners Ebenezer

 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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9/4/2022 - Matt@5453 Likes this wine: 89 points

I was expecting something a bit lighter in style, but this was more on the medium/medium+ bodied style.

Plenty of lush, ripe fruits at the core of the wine. Plums, clove, dried herbs, touch of graphite, licorice nuances, supported by a touch of oak. Lots of drying tannins on the finish.

Overall, it comes up quite short on the finish, then you get the drying effect from the tannins, not thrilling at this stage - it feels a bit unbalanced, or unfinished. 13.9% alcohol per the label.

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Red

2021 Agricola Vintners Ebenezer

 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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8/9/2022 - mrwineface Likes this wine: NR

Consumed over 2 days. Purple hue, great nose, subtle - power, fruit, tannins all well balanced,long life ahead.

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Red

2021 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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8/2/2022 - mrwineface wrote: 92 points

Well, this is going to be very good. It’s almost a purple hue now, lots going on. Red fruit, savoury notes, plenty of complexity and restrained power here, but subtle and not what I’d call a big Barossa Shiraz. Will go the distance. Lovely.

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Red

2020 Agricola Vintners Ebenezer

 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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12/22/2021 - LindsayM Likes this wine: 96 points

The Ebenezer Shiraz is sourced solely from Adrian Hoffmann’s vineyards in Ebenezer. The Hoffmann family have been farming their land in Ebenezer since the 1850’s and have accumulated the kind of knowledge only six generations of farming can produce.

Colour Impenetrable purple thru to the rim , black hues 15/15
Nose intense mix of red black and blue fruits , cherry raspberry plum, blackberry boysenberry, violet florals spice notes including white pepper , a real peacocks tail of aromas 28/30
Palate full bodied with flavours from the nose the standout is the balance between fruit purity and silky tannins 42/44
Overall a seamless balance elegant Shiraz at such an early stage ensuring a long life for this wine , especially considering the 12.9% alc .Certainly the pick of the 2 releases from Agricola or is it just the Hoffmann vineyard fruit 11/11

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Red

2020 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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12/20/2021 - LindsayM Likes this wine: 93 points

Colour med density bright purple fading to clear on the rim, dark purple hues 15/15
Nose med Intensity , red fruits plums , dark cherry , black olives , spice black pepper, cardamom, star anise, florals violet and red capsicum , lots of layers that responded to aeration 28/30
Palate med+ bodied flavours from the nose , black cherry plum , dark chocolate crisp acidity and fine grain tannins which are seamless across the palate , long finish 41/44
Overall , drinks like a cool climate shiraz from Central Victoria , great balance and fruit purity are the standouts for me , it will be interesting to follows it’s journey 9/11

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Red

2020 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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9/9/2021 - Screwcaps Likes this wine: 95 points

Such a beautiful wine. Caveat, you have to like green florals and capsicum, but if you do this is a beautiful wine.

It’s a few points above the Ebernezer for me at this junction.

Thank you duck for sharing and throwing me way off course.

I knew it was Barossa because that was the theme of our blind tasting and the duck is a good man. But I’d never have guessed straight shiraz. Grenache, maybe.

Great to see that the Barossa still has a few tricks up its sleeves. I’d drop this wine in to a Pinot or Hunter Shiraz tasting for closer comparison.

This is outstanding 95, the Ebernezer a month or two ago is very good to excellent 92-93. Drink the Flaxman now to 5 years. Wait on the Ebernezer 2-3 years.

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Red

2020 Agricola Vintners Ebenezer

 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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8/27/2021 - Alex Faugh Does not like this wine: 90 points

Sweet/sour nose, very gamey. When first opening, got an overwhelming sense of raisins flooding out of the glass. With air, touch of chocolate, camphor, bitter herbs. This wine has is better than the Flaxman due to the greater fruit intensity. Nice bitter quality to the tannins with good soft acids, finish is long of medium intensity. It still has a choppy, slightly unfinished character to it, but this one is worth holding for a few years to see what it settles into.

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Red

2020 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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8/22/2021 - A_Steady Likes this wine: 94 points

Nice, pinot like in many ways

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Red

2020 Agricola Vintners Ebenezer

 Barossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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8/20/2021 - A_Steady Likes this wine: 96 points

Wow, so nice.

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Red

2020 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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8/16/2021 - Alex Faugh Does not like this wine: 88 points

Expensive for what it is. Interesting nose: Smokey herbs and twigs. Light bodied, does have some complexity, and a fairly long, if not terribly rich finish, but it also comes across as being a touch unfinished and 'natural'.

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Red

2020 Agricola Vintners Flaxman Valley

 Eden Valley Shiraz, Syrah more
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8/1/2021 - deverett wrote: 94 points

Such an unusual styling for a SA Shiraz, no blockbuster here. It is a wine built on texture, subtely and elegance, showing another expression of Eden Balley Shiraz. It is lithe and textural, has an energy and vibrancy that sets it apart from other versions. Definitely in the lighter spectrum, dark sour cherries, pepper and spice box, very subtle oak and lovely tannins. It would be easy to glug this down, such is its drinkability, but you would miss the intricacies and complexity of this beautiful wine. A terrific wine here, so different and despite its lack of blockbuster fruit, I think it will still cellar pretty well for a while. Well done Callum Powell.

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  • Tasting notes: 24 notes on 7 wines

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