Hailing from New Zealand originally, Stephen Cook first crossed ‘the ditch’ to compete in a trans-Tasman camel race, eventually finding his passion for wine when visiting Adelaide some years later.

After two decades working for luminaries such as McWilliams, Pernod Ricard and Kingston Estate, Cook set up camp in the Barossa and embarked on his own adventure, launching Eisenstone in 2014.

Eisenstone derives its name from the rich German heritage of the Barossa Valley, blending the German word for iron (Eisen) with the English word for stone paying homage to the ironstone soils where the vineyards thrive.

Cook’s philosophy is to specialise in Barossa Valley Shiraz, with a focus on showcasing the vineyards rather than the winemaker. To achieve this, Cook uses the same winemaking method for each wine, differing only in the subregion within the Barossa where the vineyard is situated.

Eisenstone is no longer flying under the radar, having been recognised by The Real Review with a 99-point score for the 2020 Hoffmann Vineyard Ebenezer Shiraz. Little room to move as, by all accounts, the 2021 is even better (we tried it below).

Indeed, since its inception, Eisenstone has consistently garnered praise from journalists. In the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards, Cook was honoured as the highest-awarded winemaker from Australia. Recently, he secured an impressive fourth position in Huon Hooke’s The Real Review Top Wineries of Australia 2023.

The Eisenstone range champions the ‘sub-regions’, or parishes, of the Barossa where Cook sources his fruit. In the range currently, there are four separate regions: Ebenezer, Marananga, Koonunga and Greenock, with a single vineyard series from each area showcasing an individual site. We took a look at the 2021 wines being released to market as we go to print, and they didn’t disappoint.

Here are the top four wines, one from each sub-region/parish.

2021 Eisenstone – Hoffman DV Vineyard
Ebenezer Shiraz
Deep ruby red, savoury fruit intertwined with luscious ripe berry fruits and delightful spicy oak nuances. The palate boasts a luxurious texture delivering exceptional depth of flavour. The wine delivers a ‘sense of place’ with refined elegance at its core while still imbuing the power of the Barossa – wrapped in a Burgundian blanket.

2021 Eisenstone
Marananga Shiraz
A deep ruby hue that exudes both intensity and depth, this wine captures the style of Maranaga wines, showcasing forest berry fruits. The palate unveils delicate hints of violets and floral nuances, imparting an extra layer of complexity. Vibrant and beautifully integrated tannins.

2021 Eisenstone – Becker VYD
Koonunga Shiraz
Old vineyards of the Northern Barossa give this wine a combination of elegance and power. Black forest fruits take centre stage, commanding attention, while a graceful touch of French oak spice provides a solid foundation.

2021 Eisenstone
Greenock Shiraz
A well-balanced and harmonious palate – spice and generous red and blackberry integrated with oak. Tight and zippy tannins benefit from decanting, developing into a luscious mouthfeel with ample fruit weight, great length, and a precise finish. Delicious.