2023 Hobbs of The Barossa Tin Lids Shiraz Cabernet | 94 Points | Barossa Valley

🍷 94 Points | From the Barossa Family Whose First Wines Were Made by the Legendary Chris Ringland!

94 Points – Wine Orbit | 93 Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate | 92 Points – Halliday Wine Companion

An Extraordinary Shiraz Cabernet from the Hobbs Family – With Winemaking by Spinifex's Peter Schell!

2023 Hobbs of the Barossa Tin Lids Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

Barossa Valley, South Australia

RRP $50

What happens when one of the Barossa's most fascinating family-owned vineyards combines the generosity of Shiraz with the elegance of Cabernet Sauvignon, and puts the wine in the hands of one of Australia's most respected winemakers?

You get one hell of a Barossa red!

And that's exactly what we have with the 2023 Hobbs Tin Lids Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon.

This is a seriously impressive wine.

Rich black cherries.

Dark plums.

Blackberries.

Beautiful spice.

Subtle cedar and earthy complexity.

And wonderfully silky tannins.

But here's what makes it so exciting.

94 POINTS – SAM KIM, WINE ORBIT!

93 POINTS – ERIN LARKIN, THE WINE ADVOCATE!

92 POINTS – DAVE BROOKES, HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION!

And the pedigree behind this wine?

Absolutely fascinating.

The Hobbs family's early wines were made by the legendary Chris Ringland.

And the winemaker responsible for the Tin Lids range is Peter Schell of Spinifex Wines.

Two extraordinary names in Barossa winemaking.

One remarkable family vineyard.

And a wine that offers serious quality at an RRP of just $50.

This is exactly the sort of Barossa red I love discovering at Liquid Vibe!

Hobbs of Barossa – A Remarkable Family Story

The story begins in 1995.

Greg and Allison Hobbs left city life behind and moved with their children to a historic vineyard in the Barossa Ranges.

Their property comprised approximately 15 acres of vines.

And they were determined to create something special.

But here's the extraordinary part.

Their next-door neighbour was none other than:

CHRIS RINGLAND!

One of the most celebrated Shiraz winemakers in Australian history.

Ringland was already developing a reputation for producing extraordinarily concentrated, powerful and age-worthy Barossa Shiraz.

And he helped make the Hobbs family's first vintages.

Think about that.

You move to the Barossa.

Buy a vineyard.

And your neighbour happens to be one of Australia's greatest Shiraz winemakers.

Not a bad introduction to the wine business!

Over the years, Chris remained an important influence and adviser.

And the Hobbs family developed a reputation for producing some of the Barossa's most distinctive premium reds.

Here's Something Most People Don't Know – Peter Schell Makes the Tin Lids Wines

This is the detail that really gets me excited.

The Tin Lids range is made with the involvement of Peter Schell.

And if you're serious about Barossa wine, you'll know exactly who he is.

Peter is the winemaker behind Spinifex Wines.

One of the most respected boutique producers in the Barossa Valley.

Spinifex has built its reputation on beautifully balanced, savoury and expressive wines.

Wines that combine fruit concentration with freshness.

Structure with elegance.

And complexity with drinkability.

Peter's approach is quite different from the enormous, heavily extracted Barossa reds that dominated parts of the region's history.

He understands how to capture the richness of the Barossa without losing freshness or finesse.

And that's exactly what makes this Tin Lids Shiraz Cabernet so compelling.

It's rich.

It's generous.

But it's also beautifully balanced.

And that combination is harder to achieve than you might think.

Why the Name Tin Lids?

Here's another wonderful part of the story.

In Australian slang, tin lids means children.

And that's exactly where the name comes from.

When Greg and Allison Hobbs moved to the Barossa in 1995, they brought their children with them.

The vineyard became a family adventure.

Everyone contributed.

And the Tin Lids range was created as a celebration of that family involvement.

It's a wonderfully Australian name.

And one that reflects the personality of the people behind the wines.

But don't let the playful label fool you.

There's some seriously impressive winemaking here.

The Blend – 60% Shiraz and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2023 Tin Lids is a classic Australian blend.

60% Shiraz.

40% Cabernet Sauvignon.

And there's a very good reason these two varieties work so beautifully together.

Shiraz provides the richness.

Dark plum.

Blackberry.

Black cherry.

Warm spice.

And generous fruit concentration.

Cabernet Sauvignon brings something different.

Structure.

Cedar.

Savoury complexity.

Fine tannins.

And excellent ageing potential.

Together, they create a wine with wonderful depth and balance.

But here's what's particularly interesting about the 2023.

Despite its Barossa origins, the wine has a beautiful sense of elegance.

It's not simply about power.

It's about texture.

Freshness.

And beautifully integrated tannins.

The Winemaking – Wild Fermentation and Old French Oak

The 2023 Tin Lids Shiraz Cabernet is made with a thoughtful, relatively restrained approach.

The fruit was hand-picked.

Fermentation occurred naturally using wild yeasts over approximately 10 days.

During fermentation, the cap was gently plunged by hand each day.

This helps extract colour, flavour and tannin while allowing the winemaker to control the structure of the wine.

After fermentation, the wine was gently pressed.

And then transferred into older French oak barrels.

The wine matured for approximately 12 months.

That last detail is particularly important.

Older French oak allows the wine to develop texture and complexity without being overwhelmed by new-oak flavours.

The result?

Beautiful fruit purity.

Fine savoury complexity.

Subtle spice.

And wonderfully integrated tannins.

This is Barossa red wine made with elegance in mind.

Tasting Notes – Black Cherry, Dark Plum, Cedar and Beautiful Spice

The 2023 Hobbs Tin Lids Shiraz Cabernet is a wonderfully expressive wine.

The colour is deep red with vibrant purple tones.

The aromatics reveal:

• Black cherries

• Dark plums

• Blackberries

• Redcurrants

• Warm baking spice

• Cloves

• Cedar

• Thyme and dried herbs

• Roasted hazelnut

• Subtle earthy complexity

The palate is beautifully generous.

There's excellent dark fruit concentration.

Black cherry.

Plum.

Blackberry.

And a lovely touch of redcurrant freshness.

The Shiraz provides a rich, expansive core.

While the Cabernet adds structure and savoury detail.

The tannins are beautifully integrated.

Fine.

Silky.

And persistent.

There's a wonderful balance between fruit richness and freshness.

And the finish is long, with subtle spice, cedar and earthy complexity.

Black cherry. Dark plum. Blackberry. Redcurrant. Clove. Cedar. Fine tannins. Extraordinary length.

This is a beautifully balanced Barossa red.

94 Points – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Sam Kim awarded the 2023 Tin Lids Shiraz Cabernet:

94 POINTS – WINE ORBIT!

His review highlights the wine's ripe dark plum character, herbal lift, warm spice and roasted hazelnut complexity.

On the palate, the fruit is succulent and concentrated.

But there's also a wonderful savoury dimension.

Fine tannins support the fruit beautifully.

And the finish is long and structured.

Recommended drinking: Now to 2036.

That's an impressive endorsement for a wine at an RRP of $50.

93 Points – Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate

And here's the review that I find particularly fascinating.

93 POINTS – ERIN LARKIN, ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE!

Erin highlights the wine's vibrant red fruit, dark spice and layered aromatics.

But what really impressed her was the texture.

Despite being a Shiraz Cabernet blend from the Barossa, the wine is remarkably supple and elegant.

It has lovely weight.

But doesn't feel heavy.

It has richness.

But also freshness.

And the tannins are beautifully integrated.

That's a wonderful endorsement.

Because the finest Barossa reds aren't simply the biggest wines.

They're the ones that combine concentration with balance.

92 Points – Halliday Wine Companion

The wine also received:

92 POINTS – DAVE BROOKES, HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION!

Dave's assessment highlights its ripe plum, cherry and blackberry characters, supported by savoury herbs, baking spice, dark chocolate and earthy complexity.

There's excellent fruit depth.

Fine tannin structure.

And lovely persistence through the finish.

Another impressive endorsement.

Why Shiraz Cabernet Is Such a Great Australian Blend

Here's something worth remembering.

Shiraz Cabernet is one of Australia's classic red wine combinations.

And it's a blend that deserves more attention.

The two varieties complement each other beautifully.

Shiraz provides generosity and richness.

Cabernet provides structure and length.

When the blend is done well, you get the best of both worlds.

A wine that's delicious to drink.

But also has the structure to develop in the cellar.

And the Hobbs Tin Lids is a wonderful example.

Cellaring Potential

The 2023 Tin Lids Shiraz Cabernet is already beautifully approachable.

But it has excellent potential for further development.

Sam Kim recommends drinking through 2036.

That's an impressive window.

I'd happily open a bottle now.

But I'd also put a few away.

As the wine matures, the youthful dark fruit characters should develop deeper cedar, leather, dried herb and savoury complexity.

And those fine Cabernet tannins should continue to integrate.

Suggested drinking window: 2026–2036.

Food Pairings

This is a magnificent wine for food.

I'd recommend:

• Slow-roasted lamb shoulder

• Chargrilled rib-eye steak

• Roast beef

• Barbecued beef short ribs

• Venison

• Lamb shanks

• Mushroom and truffle risotto

• Aged cheddar

Personally, I'd love this with slow-roasted lamb shoulder, rosemary, garlic and roasted potatoes.

The richness of the Shiraz would complement the lamb beautifully.

And the Cabernet's fine tannins would provide wonderful structure.

Why We Love It at Liquid Vibe

Because this wine has everything I love about great Barossa reds.

A remarkable family story.

A historic vineyard.

A fascinating connection to Chris Ringland.

Winemaking by Peter Schell of Spinifex.

A beautifully judged Shiraz Cabernet blend.

Wild fermentation.

Old French oak.

And outstanding critic scores.

Look at what you're getting.

2023 Hobbs Tin Lids Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

Barossa Valley, South Australia

60% Shiraz | 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

Hobbs Family Vineyard

Winemaking – Peter Schell of Spinifex

Wild Fermentation

Hand-Picked Fruit

12 Months in Older French Oak

94 Points – Wine Orbit

93 Points – The Wine Advocate

92 Points – Halliday Wine Companion

RRP $50

This is serious Barossa red wine.

Rich.

Beautifully textured.

Full of dark fruit and spice.

But also wonderfully elegant.

And offering excellent value for money.

2023 HOBBS OF THE BAROSSA TIN LIDS SHIRAZ CABERNET SAUVIGNON

BAROSSA VALLEY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

94 POINTS – WINE ORBIT!

93 POINTS – THE WINE ADVOCATE!

92 POINTS – HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION!

RRP $50

60% SHIRAZ | 40% CABERNET SAUVIGNON

MADE WITH PETER SCHELL OF SPINIFEX WINES!

BLACK CHERRY. DARK PLUM. BLACKBERRY. CEDAR. WARM SPICE. FINE TANNINS. EXTRAORDINARY LENGTH.

A BEAUTIFULLY BALANCED BAROSSA RED FROM ONE OF THE REGION'S MOST FASCINATING FAMILY WINERIES!