90 points
Barossa Valley, South Australia. 14.5%
Dark fruited shiraz. This has a lot of substance, needs another 10 years.
A pity about the obvious added acidity. Best consumed in the company of other Penfolds reds where the style will be less noticeable.
90 points
Barossa Valley, South Australia. 14.5%
from the great 2002 vintage where it was said that even a drover’s dog could make decent wine. That said, later in bottle some signs of incomplete ripeness have shown and there is a vegetal seam here not usually seen on Turkey Flat.
Also some interesting aged character, old leather even. Has classic Barossa creaminess but more savoury and complex than most.
Awful tiny cork.
89 points
Florina, Greece. 14%
Syrah 60%, Xinomavro 20%, Merlot 20%.
The best Greek wine I think I have ever tasted. Still youthful. Fresher more herbal than most wines from the South of France. Excellent balance. Just marred by a touch of raisin.
That said, Next to it Turkey Flat Shiraz 2006 just sang. Richer deeper yet without any raisin.
88 points
Saint-Estèphe. 13%
Rather modern but in a good way, not sweet or in any way souped up. More the opposite, cleaner light less rustic St-Estèphe. But still plenty of tannin – the terroir still shows.
90 points
Hawkes Bay, NZ. 14%
another fine Awatea. Able to stand in the company of decent Bordeaux. Like the second wine of a classed growth. It has excellent flavour, lovely clarity, just the right amount of Cabernet fruitiness, just lacks the concentration and depth of top wines.
85 points
Adelaide Hills, South Australia. 13.5%
A berry fruity shiraz. Nice medium concentration. I’d rate it higher if it weren’t for the sweetness which goes so far as to suggest residual sugar – and that suggestion really does detract.
91+ points
Hermitage, Northern Rhone, France. 13.5%
Shiny dense dark colour. Clear varietal Shiraz nose. This is a savoury concentrated wine with a bit of everything, but nothing overblown. Oak, tannin, flavour, acid. Well done.
Has lost the flush of youth but has some way to go until the complexities of age emerge.
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