The 1999 Vintage Declared Shiraz Port is a shockingly good offering. This fortified red was bottled one year after aging in tank. It possesses notes of violets and acacia flowers, an unctuous texture, and extraordinarily thick, intense, juicy, blackberry fruit flavors intermixed with licorice liqueur-like notes. One never really knows how stunning a wine such as this can be unless it is put in a blind tasting against some of the great vintage ports. D'Arenberg's impressive 1999 was both extraordinarily elegant and generous. Whether or not it has the aging potential of a great vintage port remains to be seen, but certainly this fortified Shiraz should last for 15-20 years. Importer: Rob McDonald, Old Bridge Cellars, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 258-9552