Put simply, The Signature is one of Australia’s truly great fine wines. However, it’s the value that sets it apart – there aren’t many which combine the heritage, reputation, ageworthiness and bang for buck. First released in 1962, this flagship blend has long been one of Yalumba's defining wines, combining cabernet sauvignon and shiraz from a selection of the estate's finest Barossa vineyards into a red that consistently overdelivers.
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The 2023 vintage is the 52nd release of The Signature and was shaped by a cooler, slower growing season. Above-average winter and spring rainfall delayed budburst by several weeks, while mild conditions throughout the growing season allowed the fruit to ripen gradually, preserving pristine flavours and vibrant natural acidity. The result is a wine of precision and elegance rather than sheer power, offering exceptional balance alongside the depth and longevity for which The Signature is renowned.
Produced from six vineyards, the blend is made up of 55% cabernet sauvignon and 45% shiraz. The cabernet contributes depth of fruit and structure, while shiraz from vineyards with vines dating back to 1935 brings richness, generosity and layers of complexity. Maturation for 19 months in French and Hungarian oak, 22% of it new, has added further polish without overshadowing the purity of the fruit.
As always, each vintage honours someone who has played an important role in Yalumba's history. The 2023 release celebrates Peter Sawrey, a long-standing Yalumba employee who has written the back labels of The Signature for 32 vintages. It is fitting that he should be able to add his own name to the 2023 vintage upon his retirement. It is a great honour to be chosen as a signatory by Yalumba owner, Robert Hill-Smith.
For me, The Signature remains one of the benchmarks of Australian fine wine. It is a wine that captures everything that makes the Barossa so compelling and reinforces this region as one of the greatest and most important in the world of wine. Whether enjoyed in its youth or laid down for the next decade and beyond, it continues to represent one of the best-value examples of world-class Australian wine.
