A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Shiraz, the 2004 The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz gives a deep garnet-purple color and intense cassis, coffee and menthol aromas with hints of dusty earth, underbrush, black truffles and a whiff of lavender. Very fine, elegant and medium-bodied in the mouth, there’s just enough fruit and savory flavors to balance the crisp acid and firm fine tannins. It should age beautifully, drinking now to 2020+. Remaining one of Australia’s oldest, largest and most prestigious family owned companies, Yalumba’s top wines should not be overlooked amongst the limelight-hogging young-gun wines that have sprung-up around the Barossa in the last 20 years. Some of the region’s finest vineyards are owned or contracted by this company. They’ve also contributed considerably to the quality of vine material available throughout the region with the impressive developments at the Yalumba nursery. Regarding the current releases, The Signature and Octavius won’t be released in 2007. I was informed that in 2008 all their reds were picked before the first week of March but there were no single site wines made in 2008 because it was felt the fruit wasn’t expressing the sites. 2009 was a good year and everything will be released, though winemaker Louisa Rose confessed that their early maturing Shiraz suffered the most in the 2009 heat spike.Importer: Negociants USA, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-0993