Thorn Clarke 'Ron Thorn' Shiraz 2018 - 750ml

94pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Judging by the obscenely heavy packaging, this wine is going to be big—and big it is. 2018 was a wonderful vintage for Barossa Shiraz, and many producers were able to coax (with ease) abundant red fruits and balanced, ductile tannins from the grapes this season; this is no exception. The 2018 Ron Thorn Shiraz is heavily weighted down by oak at this stage, but the fruit shows the requisite muscle to fend off the oak in the long term. A very good wine, but it's definitely not ready yet.

93pts Vinous

This bold Shiraz Ron Thorn Single Vineyard from the excellent 2018 vintage delivers an impressive density of youthful fruit - blackberry and blackcurrant with cumin and coriander seed complexity plus a solid dose of new oak. A robust tannic palate follows, displaying dense ripe fruit with layers of roasted meats and soy sauce complexity. Oak flavors and tannins frame the wine nicely, but it needs time to peak.

Wine Enthusiast

Housed in a wrist-achingly heavy bottle that's unfortunate in the age of climate change, this is a rich, ripe Shiraz with quite developed aromas of dates, figs, licorice, mocha and a smudge of pencil lead. The palate is warm and mouthfilling with supple fruit and granular, somewhat drying tannins.

Winemaker Notes

A tribute to a beloved member of the Thorn-Clarke family, our Ron Thorn Shiraz is the pinnacle expression of our Barossa tradition. Made from the best fruit and produced only in exceptional years, this wine is given the benefit of 20 months of barrel maturation and 6 months in bottle prior to release.

Vegan