BlackJack is a winery we've long had a soft spot for and one with a large, loyal following. Based in the Harcourt Valley in the Bendigo wine region of Central Victoria, Blackjack produce unashamedly old-school styles of red wine; full of rich flavours, quality oak influence and loads of charm. There is no mistaking the impeccable pedigree of the 2024 Blackjack Bendigo Shiraz; offering up the usual strong scents of brooding, dark plummy fruit with toasty oak sitting quietly behind it and hints of spice coming through as it opens in the glass. The typically concentrated fruit is evident on the front palate, with the round, juicy fruit character and fine tannins giving way to a gentle, supple finish. Delicious drinking that will offer plenty of joy over the next decade or two. "A Shiraz that puts you in your happy place. It’s simply brimming with heart-warming flavour but - and it’s a big but - there is a lot more to this charmer. Look beyond the generous dark fruits, the plum, the earth, the liquorice and the chocolate and there’s a wine in total balance, right from the start of its life. This is important, both for immediate drinking pleasure should you choose, or for the longer journey you might have planned. That balance speaks volumes. So, too, the smooth run of generous flavour across the tongue, the even tannins in place which are impressively smooth and binding and the finish which stays with you. 93 Points. $42. Drink: 2026 - 2036"- Jeni Port, Wine Pilot.
