Winemaker Notes
87 Points
"The 2005 Shiraz is purple-colored with aromas of smoke and blueberry. Medium-bodied, with
ample spicy fruit, it offers good concentration, depth, and balance. Drink it over the next 2-3
years."
Wine Advocate
87 Points
"Fresh and lively, with a smoky edge to the blackberry and cherry flavors."
Wine Spectator
88 Points
"Dark red. Youthful pepper-accented cassis and blackberry on the nose, with a suggestion
of cracked pepper. Fleshy in texture, with jammy dark berry flavors, soft acidity and a hint of floral pastille. Very persistent sweet blackberry and kirsch on the finish. Vaguely liqueur-like but there's good acid lift and thrust here. Remains just this side of sweet." Stephen Tanzer's
International Wine Cellar
Though Syrah originated in the Rhône Valley of France, Australia is home to the oldest Syrah (called Shiraz here) vines on the planet. Found in Australia’s Barossa Valley, where phylloxera has never threated viticulture, these ancient vines are between 140 to 175 years old!
Having brought fame and merit to the country’s wine scene since the early 1950s, namely via the debut of Penfolds Grange, today Syrah (Shiraz) claims rank as the most widely planted grape in Australia. In fact, the amount of land dedicated to Shiraz in Australia is now almost equivalent to what it is in France. Australian Shiraz has its own personality with flavors and aromas of intense blackberry, fruitcake, menthol, tobacco leaf and umami. Conveniently one can find great Australian Shiraz at a variety of price points but the very best will be dense, gloriously complex and capable of long aging.