Cape Barren’s 2001 is an impressive red, aged 15 months in American oak. It exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a sweet, powerful bouquet of blackberry liqueur intermixed with vanillin and smoke. Dense and full-bodied, it is classically Australian in its exuberant, flamboyant display of fruit, wood, and alcohol as well as its plump, concentrated finish. A relatively new estate (the first vintage was 1998), this Old Vine Shiraz was produced from 60-year old vines in the Blewitt Springs and Brookman Road vineyards made famous by Clarendon Hills. The fruit for this particular cuvee was formerly sold to Rosemount for their well-known Balmoral Shiraz. Although it will be hard to resist, it will benefit from several more years of bottle age, and will keep for 10-12 years. Importer: Peter Click, Click Imports, Seattle, WA; tel. (800) 859-0689

Strongly oaky, with more spicy, pickle-barrel flavor than fruit. Drink now. 320 cases imported.??–HS??Region: Australia / McLaren Vale Select to Add