Schild Estate Ben Schild Reserve Single Vineyard Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021

A "lovely contemporary Barossa Reserve Shiraz" (Halliday) with three Golds and 2 x 95pt scores. The Schild Estate can boast Shiraz vines planted by Ann Jacobs in 1847. The Schild's first arrived in Australia in 1866, and the family moved to the Barossa and purchased vineyards here in 1952. They did not make their first 'Schild' branded wine until 1998, but the estate's reputation grew steadily. Although no longer owned by the family, the estate's vineyards are all still under the family's control. This Ben Schild Reserve is named in honour of Ben Schild, who died suddenly back in 1956, leaving son Ed Schild to manage the business. This 2021 boasts three Golds and several scores of 94-95pts. It is, as Sam Kim Wine Orbit writes: "Instantly appealing ... plump and opulent in the mouth with plush texture backed by loads of silky tannins... with seductive complexity. 95pts" WinePilot complements its "sumptuous palate... bright and vibrant with tremendous juicy ripe fruits..." For Dave Brookes, The Halliday Wine Companion, “There's a real creaminess that I like here. It's not an oak creaminess, more so a plum and blueberry cream with underlying hints of dark-chocolate-dipped cherries, black forest cake, vanillin oak, panforte, olive tapenade, violets and earth. Luscious and mouth-filling with fine tannins and a velvety flow at the back end. It's a lovely contemporary Barossa shiraz. 95pts, Great Value.”