The opaque purple-colored 2007 Pillar Box Reserve Shiraz spent eight months in French and American oak. It delivers an enticing nose of cedar, spice notes, violets, black currant, and blueberry. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, plush, and layered with notes of clove, briar patch, and road tar making an appearance. Round and velvety on the palate with excellent length, it can be enjoyed now and over the next six years. It is an excellent value. James Halliday says of Padthaway, “?It is on the way to nowhere. If you can pass through Coonawarra without noticing very much, you can pass through Padthaway without noticing anything at all.” Be that as it may, this is where the Longbottoms added grape growing to their other farming interests and began Henry’s Drive Vignerons. It quickly became clear that high quality grapes could be grown in Padthaway (they became the foundation of the Marquis-Philips line) and, subsequently, The Henry’s Drive, Parson’s Flat, and Pillar Box labels have gained significant traction in the USA market over the last ten years thanks to their superb price to quality ratio. Importer: Quintessential Wines, Napa, CA; www.quintessentialwines.com

A rich, savory style of Shiraz, with bold blackberry and black olive flavors that work easily together, framed by vanilla and soft, dusty tannins. Drink it over the next few years.——J.C.(4/1/2010)—— 90