Hoffmann Shiraz is one of Chris Ringland’s most celebrated and sought-after wines, sourced from the renowned Hoffmann Vineyard in the Barossa Valley — a site famous for producing some of Australia’s most powerful and ageworthy Shiraz. Drawn from extremely old, low-yielding vines, the wine represents a pure expression of both this historic vineyard and Ringland’s signature, high-impact winemaking style.
The Hoffmann Vineyard is prized for its ancient vine material and deep, well-established root systems, which naturally restrict yields and deliver fruit of exceptional concentration. This translates into a wine of remarkable density and intensity, capturing the Barossa’s sun-drenched character while retaining structural authority and depth.
Aromatically, the wine typically presents layers of blackcurrant, blackberry compote and plum, supported by notes of liquorice, dark chocolate, espresso and exotic spice. The palate is мощ and full-bodied, with a massive core of ripe fruit framed by muscular tannins and elevated alcohol, balanced by enough natural acidity to carry the wine through an exceptionally long, resonant finish.
In the cellar, extended maceration and significant oak ageing are used to build structure and amplify complexity. The élevage regime is designed to match the wine’s natural scale, resulting in a Shiraz that is unapologetically bold, built for long-term cellaring and gradual evolution in bottle.
For collectors, Chris Ringland Hoffmann Shiraz is considered a cult-level Barossa wine, prized for its rarity, vineyard pedigree and sheer power. It is a bottle defined by intensity and longevity, rewarding patience with tertiary layers of leather, mocha, spice and savoury depth over many years. Among enthusiasts of full-throttle Barossa Shiraz, it stands as a benchmark example of extreme old-vine expression.
