40th Vintage Release Wolf Blass Black Label

Congratulations to Wolf Blass wines on the 40th consecutive release of its premium Wolf Blass Black Label Vintage wine. Wolf Blass was established in the Barossa Valley in 1966.  It was grown from a humble vineyard to one of the world’s most successful and awarded wine brands.

Since the 1973 vintage the vineyard has won more than 64 trophies and nearly 300 gold medals. The Black Label has always been known for exceptional quality and consistently each year.

Wolf Blass Eaglehawk and Cellar Door
Wolf Blass Eaglehawk and Cellar Door

Nearly ten years ago I had the pleasure of visiting the Wolf Blass Vineyard, in the Barossa Valley. It was one of the highlights of our South Australian wine tasting experience.  The Wolf Blass Visitors Centre is an awe inspiring building located in the heart of the Barossa Valley. At the entrance to the centre, visitors are greeted by the brands ambassador, a bronzed Eaglehawk sculpture.

Wolf Blass Aerial Cellar Door
Wolf Blass Aerial Cellar Door

Once inside the building, the enormity of the vineyard and Wolf Blass’ inspiring wine history is apparent by the range of wines on offer. The Wolf Blass wine range starts at the modest, entry level, red label.  The colour label system then proceeds to yellow, gold, grey and the prestigious black label. Within the centre there’s a display which pays homage to Wolf Blass’ iconic Black Label Wines.  The vineyard has created a Black Label Vintage Wall which showcases every Black Label vintage produced since the winery’s inception in 1973. This is something no other winemaker is able to replicate.

Wolf Blass Black Label 40th Vintage
Wolf Blass Black Label 40th Vintage

The black label wines are the vineyards most highly prized red blends. The wall is a tribute to Black Label’s unprecedented Jimmy Watson success. The Jimmy Watson is Australia’s most prestigious and sought after wine award. Wolf Blass Black Label is the only wine in the country to have won the coveted trophy a record four times.

Wolf Blass 40th Release Cabernet Sauvignon
Wolf Blass 40th Release Cabernet Sauvignon

In March this year Wolf Blass announced the 40th consecutive release, of its premium Black Label Vintage wine. The luxury wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon blend, and has already scored 97 points from iconic Australian wine critic James Halliday, with Jeremy Oliver commenting that ‘It’s the best Black Label vintage he has tasted in many years’.

When I left the Wolf Blass vineyard nearly a decade ago I did so with a love of Wolf Blass wines. I remember my purchases at the cellar door were predominately of the gold and grey range. Those wines brought me great joy long after our wine tasting getaway was a memory. Since that day Wolf Blass has been one of my “go to” wine brands. The wines I’ve selected from the range have always earned praise at dinner parties, proving to me that a quality wine pleases all palates.

Wolf Blass Wines 40th Release Black Label
Wolf Blass Wines 40th Release Black Label

I’m sure you can imagine how thrilled I am to now have the honour of sampling the most prestigious Wolf Blass Black Label Vintage Cabernet Sauvignon.

The grapes for the 40th Black Label release were from the 2012 vintage.  I’m told that 2012 was a cool year in the Barossa which produced intense plush fruit flavours in the wine, and lovely soft tannins. On tasting, I found the wine to be a magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon blend.  It had a great depth of plummy fruit flavours and was buttery and smooth on the palate. The soft tannins gave the wine a lovely lift in the finish.

I would recommend to any wine connoisseur to be on the look out for this very exciting release. The wine comes beautifully packaged in a black display box making it a wonderful gift idea. Although I’m not sure I could part with such a lovely bottle of wine.

This year the Black Label release will retail at $129.99.

Wolf Blass Winery Visitors Centre

97 Sturt Highway
Nuriootpa
South Australia 5355
+61 8 8568 7311

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