A good value, the 2001 The Footbolt Shiraz is a plump, plum, blackberry, and currant-flavored effort displaying hints of smoke, earth, and pepper. It is a well-balanced, medium to full-bodied, delicious Shiraz to drink over the next 5-7 years. Chester Osborn, the remarkable person behind this enormous array of both impeccably high quality and value-priced wines, deserves considerable accolades for what he is able to achieve at all price ranges. If you love Australian wines, d’Arenberg is a winery to seek out as these offerings all possess abundant soul as well as character. In short, the accolades that proprietor/winemaker Chester Osborn receives not only from The Wine Advocate, but virtually everybody in the wine world, are all well deserved.Importer: Rob McDonald, Old Bridge Cellars, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 258-9552