Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Flirting with perfection, the blue/purple-colored 2002 Shiraz Reserve is a 300-case cuvee produced from 40-year-old vines that was aged in a combination of small and large oak. Along with a texture reminiscent of motor oil, this full-bodied, remarkably intense Shiraz possesses great purity and richness as well as a broad palate. As concentrated as Shiraz can get, it is also impeccably well-balanced, elegant, and bursting with personality/soul. It is the kind of wine that is hard to duplicate anywhere else in the world. It is good to see certain winemakers refuse to put the brakes on when producing something of this ilk. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016+.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
South Australia is the historic heart of Australian wine, a great wine capital of the world, and home to some of the most famous regions. It produces more than 80% of Australia’s premium wine from some of the oldest vines in the world. There is an abundance of varieties and wide spectrum of styles to explore. From the rogue to refined, discover Australian wines that are far from ordinary.