Chris Ringland Shiraz 1998

We only get one bottle each year of the 1200 made. Enjoy!A compelling effort from Chris Ringland (the name Three Rivers was dropped because of trademark litigation), this is his classic 1,200 bottle Shiraz cuvee from a 90-year old Barossa vineyard that yielded only one ton of fruit per acre. Aged in 300 liter French hogsheads (100% new) for 42 months prior to bottling, this is a prodigious offering from an exceptional vintage for South Australia. An inky purple color is followed by a gorgeous nose of minerals, blackberry liqueur, barbecue spices, sweet licorice, and a hint of white flowers. Remarkably concentrated, full-bodied, and unctuously-textured, its purity, definition, and compelling palate persistence as well as complexity are awesome. This is a magical wine from a winemaker who is a master craftsman. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020+.