Going strong although it took a good 20 minutes to open and become approachable. The nose is a big game and fruit number, but not out of proportion and there are some beautiful Asian spices and a little toasty oak as well. The palette is bold but smooth, with balanced liquorice, dark cherry and leather with most of the alcohol now covered up. Still got at least 7 years in it.
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WOW. What a beautiful example of Barossa Shiraz and its ability to carry age! Color is deep garnet red and still youthful. The nose is replete with spice and blackberry, smoke, meatiness and oak. Loads of sweet fruit continue to dominate the palate along with spices and oak. This has to be 15+ alcohol though, my only complaint. This wine has great ripeness as the Barossa is want to be. The fruit is so fresh still and tannins tame. There is life left here for sure. There is no mistaking what this is. Unabashed Barossa Shiraz and proud of it.
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Definately agree that this is a 90+ wine, and nowhere near its' prime. From the great '05 vintage. Will hold my other bottle a couple more years at least.
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Sunday roast with Paddy (Our house in South Melbourne.): Gamey meats on the nose with concentrated blackcurrant. Again this is amazingly fresh for it's age, but this time the wine was definitely more balanced and elegant. The tannins worked very well with the fruit, which is much darker and better developed. The beginning of the best drinking window for this wine is very close now, and should go for years. 10 more bottles to go.
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After all the older cabs and bord blends recently, this seemed remarkably primary and young in comparison. Some rounding out at the edges, but still quite fresh. A smarter person would have saved their last bottle for another 5-10 years, but no....not me! Last one unfortunately. An excellent buy at $21 via auction.
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Dark purple. Dominant liquorice nose with fresh concentrated dark fruits and stewed plums. Still a small bit of clumsy oak, but almost all gone. Very hot, but quite well balanced with smooth tannins. Amazingly fresh for it's age. Keep for at least another 5 years.
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Oh my! So rare that I get to drink an Oz Shiraz with some age on it. This one is starting to hit its sweet spot. Too much cooking in the kitchen to evaluate the nose very well, but my sense is a spicy perfume with just a faint touch of meat. On the palate - haunting. Shiraz fruit, sweet but not cloying, perfumed, not gamey. And surprisingly balanced. Some acidity, some remaining fine tannins....long finish. G likes it, and normally she hates Oz Shiraz...a testament to this wine's balance.
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Full ripe jammy, dark purple almost opaque. Spice, oak, vanilla, blackberry and mint. Full bodied, lengthy with sweet, fine but powerful tannin. It will be interesting to compare this against the '04 which got a WS 96 and has become a sought after wine while this one sort of languishes; but I believe they are quite similar, particularly the creamy mouth coating texture and the finish which is textbook Barossa. I think this has years ahead of it.
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Decanted for 2 hrs. This shiraz exhibited a dark purple color throughout. On the nose, aromas of blackberries, plum, black raspberries were present with hints of chocolate and violets. On the palate, rich flavors of ripe plums and raspberries were predominant with hints of dried cherries leading to a nice creamy finish filled with more of the dark fruits and hints of dark chocolate. A sneak peek at what the 2004 has in store for me. HS90
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4/9/2017 - GA Likes this wine: 91 Points
4/14 strong front and balanced finish - ready now. 91 pts
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6/28/2012 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
I don't get all the hype. Perhaps an (slightly) off bottle. Still, pretty enjoyable. At $21, I'm not complaining. Drink thru 2017, 14,5% abv.
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12/13/2011 - AlexGarner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Going strong although it took a good 20 minutes to open and become approachable. The nose is a big game and fruit number, but not out of proportion and there are some beautiful Asian spices and a little toasty oak as well. The palette is bold but smooth, with balanced liquorice, dark cherry and leather with most of the alcohol now covered up. Still got at least 7 years in it.
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7/28/2011 - N2Vin wrote: 93 Points
WOW. What a beautiful example of Barossa Shiraz and its ability to carry age! Color is deep garnet red and still youthful. The nose is replete with spice and blackberry, smoke, meatiness and oak. Loads of sweet fruit continue to dominate the palate along with spices and oak. This has to be 15+ alcohol though, my only complaint. This wine has great ripeness as the Barossa is want to be. The fruit is so fresh still and tannins tame. There is life left here for sure. There is no mistaking what this is. Unabashed Barossa Shiraz and proud of it.
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7/22/2010 - djreme wrote: 92 Points
Definately agree that this is a 90+ wine, and nowhere near its' prime. From the great '05 vintage. Will hold my other bottle a couple more years at least.
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6/27/2010 - AlexGarner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sunday roast with Paddy (Our house in South Melbourne.): Gamey meats on the nose with concentrated blackcurrant. Again this is amazingly fresh for it's age, but this time the wine was definitely more balanced and elegant. The tannins worked very well with the fruit, which is much darker and better developed. The beginning of the best drinking window for this wine is very close now, and should go for years. 10 more bottles to go.
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6/25/2010 - vanpe003 wrote: 93 Points
After all the older cabs and bord blends recently, this seemed remarkably primary and young in comparison. Some rounding out at the edges, but still quite fresh. A smarter person would have saved their last bottle for another 5-10 years, but no....not me! Last one unfortunately. An excellent buy at $21 via auction.
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12/16/2009 - AlexGarner wrote: 93 Points
Dark purple. Dominant liquorice nose with fresh concentrated dark fruits and stewed plums. Still a small bit of clumsy oak, but almost all gone. Very hot, but quite well balanced with smooth tannins. Amazingly fresh for it's age. Keep for at least another 5 years.
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12/5/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 93 Points
Oh my! So rare that I get to drink an Oz Shiraz with some age on it. This one is starting to hit its sweet spot. Too much cooking in the kitchen to evaluate the nose very well, but my sense is a spicy perfume with just a faint touch of meat. On the palate - haunting. Shiraz fruit, sweet but not cloying, perfumed, not gamey. And surprisingly balanced. Some acidity, some remaining fine tannins....long finish. G likes it, and normally she hates Oz Shiraz...a testament to this wine's balance.
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11/26/2009 - twoamps wrote: 94 Points
great spicy plummy peppery wine with a big finish. Best I’ve had in a while, and outstanding at the price. Everything I like in an aussie Shiraz.
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10/24/2006 - N2Vin wrote: 92 Points
Full ripe jammy, dark purple almost opaque. Spice, oak, vanilla, blackberry and mint. Full bodied, lengthy with sweet, fine but powerful tannin. It will be interesting to compare this against the '04 which got a WS 96 and has become a sought after wine while this one sort of languishes; but I believe they are quite similar, particularly the creamy mouth coating texture and the finish which is textbook Barossa. I think this has years ahead of it.
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8/5/2006 - HurrahSyrah wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs. This shiraz exhibited a dark purple color throughout. On the nose, aromas of blackberries, plum, black raspberries were present with hints of chocolate and violets. On the palate, rich flavors of ripe plums and raspberries were predominant with hints of dried cherries leading to a nice creamy finish filled with more of the dark fruits and hints of dark chocolate. A sneak peek at what the 2004 has in store for me. HS90
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