Yalumba The Signature 2016

Yalumba The Signature 2016

 

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Yalumba
The Signature 2016
  • Vintage : 2016
  • Country : Australia
  • Region : Barossa Valley
  • Subregion :
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Deep Full Bodied
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 14,5°
  • Grappes : 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Syrah

The Yalumba The Signature is a distinguished blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, honoring Yalumba’s commitment to crafting complex, full-bodied wines that reflect the Barossa Valley’s richness.

Experts Score Vintage
JS James Suckling 96 2016
DCT Decanter 96 2016
BC Bob Campbell MW 95 2016
WE Wine Enthusiast 94 2016
JH James Halliday 94 2016
RP Robert Parker 94 2016
VN Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 93 2016
WS Wine Spectator 92 2016
W&S Wines & Spirits 92 2015
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

The Cabernet Sauvignon (53%) and Shiraz (47%) grapes for The Signature 2016 are sourced from select vineyard sites in the Barossa Valley, a region renowned for its ideal conditions for these varietals. The majority of the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from four diverse Barossa vineyards, lending the wine its lifted aromatics and refined palate structure. For the Shiraz component, vines planted as early as 1925 are included, providing a layered complexity. The soils in these vineyards vary from sandy loam to yellow sand and ochre clay over red clay, imparting both concentration and finesse to the Shiraz, with a full-bodied depth that balances the Cabernet Sauvignon’s aromatic precision.

The 2016 growing season began with a moderate winter followed by a warm, dry spring and summer. A welcome 25mm rainfall at the end of January refreshed the vines, allowing the grapes to achieve optimal ripeness. This vintage saw warm days and cool nights, creating ideal conditions for flavor concentration and length.

Winemaking

The Yalumba The Signature 2016 is aged for 21 months in a combination of new and seasoned oak barrels. Specifically, 28% of the wine matures in new French barriques, as well as Hungarian and American hogsheads, with the remainder in older French, Hungarian, and American oak. This varied oak regimen imparts subtle oak notes, enhancing the wine’s structure without overwhelming its vibrant fruit character.

The wine’s extended barrel aging allows for seamless integration of tannins, resulting in a wine that balances intensity with elegance. Its layered complexity, derived from both the oak treatment and the blending of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, provides a wine that is enjoyable upon release but will continue to develop for over 15 years.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Very deep, dense red.
  • Aroma: Intense aromas of red currants, perfumed cedar, and savory dried herbs, with notes of exotic floral, cranberry, and dark chocolate.
  • Palate: Full-bodied with a precise, flowing tannin profile. The palate is rich, with flavors of red and black berries, savory herbs, and a lingering finish marked by refined tannins and balanced acidity. It reflects both the generosity and elegance of the 2016 vintage.

Did You Know?

Each vintage of Yalumba The Signature honors a key individual in Yalumba’s history, underscoring the winery’s dedication to heritage and craftsmanship. The 2016 release celebrates Louisa Rose, recognized for her pioneering work with white varietals and contribution to Yalumba’s identity.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Beef tenderloin with blackberry sauce: Complements the wine’s rich fruit profile and structured tannins.
  • Mushroom bourguignon: Matches well with the wine’s earthy, savory complexity.
  • Aged cheddar or blue cheese: Enhances the wine’s depth and balances its tannic structure.

History of Yalumba

The story of Yalumba began when Samuel Smith, a brewer from Dorset, England, emigrated to Australia with his family in 1847. After settling in Angaston, South Australia, Smith planted his first vineyard two years later, naming it “Yalumba”, which means “all the land around” in the language of the indigenous Peramangk people. Over the years, Yalumba evolved from a small vineyard to a prominent winery, with each generation contributing to its growth and prestige.

Under the leadership of Robert Hill-Smith, a fifth-generation family member, Yalumba modernized its winemaking practices, expanded its global reach, and committed to sustainability and innovation. Robert emphasized the production of dry red wines with a focus on Cabernet Shiraz, a style deeply rooted in Yalumba’s heritage since the late 1800s. The Yalumba team also prioritized nurturing their vine Nursery, established in 1975 to select quality grafted vines, contributing to the winery’s exceptional fruit quality and diversity.

Region and Vineyards

Yalumba’s vineyards are located in Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, and Coonawarra—renowned regions in South Australia. These sites offer diverse terroirs, from the fertile red and ochre soils of the Barossa to the terra rossa soils of Coonawarra, ideal for growing robust Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Yalumba’s Coonawarra vineyards, such as the Menzies Vineyard, provide structure and depth to their Cabernet, while the Eden Valley is well-suited for aromatic whites, including Riesling and Viognier. This diversity allows Yalumba to produce a range of wines that capture the essence of their distinct terroirs.

Yalumba practices sustainable viticulture, embodied in their Vitis Programme, which minimizes pesticide use and focuses on environmental stewardship. The winery’s on-site cooperage allows them to control oak quality, aging their wines in custom barrels made from French, Hungarian, and American oak, enhancing the character and balance of each wine.

Wine Range of Yalumba

Yalumba offers a diverse portfolio, from premium varietals to iconic blends:

  • The Caley: A flagship Cabernet Shiraz blend symbolizing the heritage of Barossa and Coonawarra.
  • The Signature: An age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz honoring significant figures in Yalumba’s history.
  • Samuel’s Collection: A range highlighting the Barossa’s classic varietals like Grenache, Shiraz, and Riesling.
  • Y Series: An accessible line emphasizing fresh, fruit-forward expressions of varietals like Viognier, Shiraz, and Chardonnay.
  • Rare & Fine Collection: Featuring exclusive, small-batch wines including Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra and Virgilius Viognier.

Did You Know?

Yalumba is one of the few wineries worldwide with an in-house cooperage, where they handcraft barrels to age their wines. This rare expertise allows them to control the quality of oak, ensuring each wine’s character aligns with their precise vision.

James Suckling (JS) : 96 Points (2016)
A very youthful vintage, this is taut and will age very well. Aromas of blackcurrants, tar, blackberries and baking spices lead to a palate that has such an intense, gently smoky thread with a succulent, juicy red-plum, berry and spice finish. Light espresso. Super long-aging Signature here. A blend of Barossa cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. Try from 2024.

Decanter (DCT) : 96 Points (2016)
Cool summer and autumn nights tempered warm days in 2016, producing great intensity to the iodine and espresso-edged nose and palate here. With silky blackberry and currant, fleshier mulberry and refreshing blood plum, the palate is motile, its juicy persistence a foil to the creamy, savoury oak (French barriques, Hungarian and American hogsheads, 28% new) and dynamic snare of ripe but present tannins. A fitting tribute to Yalumba's chief winemaker, Louisa Rose.

Bob Campbell MW (BC) : 95 Points (2016)
Very deep, dark colour with a good tinge of purple. The bouquet is very rich and ripe, laced with smoky oak, the very ripe blackberry aromas of warm-grown cabernet shining through strongly. It's very full-bodied and lavishly-endowed with supple tannins, sweet fruit and chocolaty density. The finish lingers long. Oak is evident but in good harmony with the bouquet and palate. A powerful, concentrated, very ripe wine for this label, and high-class. Both Shiraz and Cabernet are clearly perceptible. A long-term wine that is already approachable. (HH) (10/2020)

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 94 Points (2016)
 The latest release of this wine honors the company’s chief winemaker of 30 years, Louisa Rose. This is a lucid, multilayered wine that shows notes of dark cherry, currant, chocolate, mint, bay and peppery spices smudged with graphite. The palate is big and rich but tempered by fine, chalky tannins, with a tang to the fruit and an underbelly of roast meat. Drink 2022–2036.Cellar Selection.

James Halliday (JH) : 94 Points (2016)
The first impression is that of an ethereal nose: floral scents, bitter chocolate, graphite and iodine. Beguiling. While each of these traits is true to form, they float across the organoleptics like a carpet ride. Segueing to the palate, there is little seemingly heavy about this wine despite its obvious weight and vinosity. The tannins are very finely managed: granular and precise; almost pixelated. The finish, long. A bit tangy but I'll turn a blind eye. (NG) (8/2020)

Robert Parker (RP) : 94 Points (2016)
Yalumba's 2016 The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz is a Barossa-based blend of 53% Cab and 47% Shiraz. Aged in a mix of barriques and hogsheads (28% new), it offers up scents of cherry, cassis and tobacco, with grace notes of cedar and vanilla. Medium to full-bodied, it's concentrated, silky, streamlined and long on the finish—very much a classic claret style despite the high proportion of Shiraz. Each year's edition of the wine is dedicated to a notable Yalumba employee; the 2016 is dedicated to Chief Winemaker Louisa Rose.

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 93 Points (2016)
Inky ruby. Highly perfumed cherry, cassis, tobacco, vanilla and exotic spice scents take on a spicy nuance with air. Pliant and expansive in the mouth, offering concentrated red and dark fruit, floral pastille, allspice and mocha flavors that show impressive depth as well as energy. Closes broad, smooth and extremely long, with polished tannins and resonating spiciness and florality. Drinking window: 2024 - 2034

Wine Spectator (WS) : 92 Points (2016)
Plush and complex, with black tea, dried sage and fresh earth notes that firm up as details of stewed plum, blackberry jam and dried cherry flavors. Shows a touch of smoked paprika on the finish. (MW) (10/2021)

Wines & Spirits (W&S) : 92 Points (2015)
This is a lush cabernet that keeps a cool profile, enriched by dark fruit and tannins that taste of coffee and bitter chocolate, even as the structure feels lovely and restrained. The wine benefits considerably from time with air, giving itself more fully a day after it’s first opened. Cellar it for a year or two, then serve with grilled lamb.

Yalumba Samuel
Yalumba Samuel's Collection Grenache 2020
Yalumba
Samuel's Collection Grenache 2020
JS
93
WE
92
WS
90
Honoring the winery’s founder Samuel Smith, this wine exemplifies the rich history and unique terroir of the Barossa, focusing on purity of fruit and elegance.
26,90 €
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Yalumba Y Series Viognier 2021
Yalumba Y Series Viognier 2021
Yalumba
Y Series Viognier 2021
WE
91
VN
90
JS
90
With aromas of white flowers, apricot, and a fresh, creamy finish, this wine reflects Yalumba's commitment to creating vibrant and approachable wines from South Australia.
16,90 €
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Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz 2015
Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz 2015
Yalumba
The Caley Cabernet Shiraz 2015
BC
98
JS
98
WE
97
The Yalumba The Caley 2015 represents the pinnacle of Yalumba’s winemaking, crafted to honor Fred Caley Smith, an influential horticulturist and adventurer from the Yalumba family.
350,00 €
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62,90 €
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