The 2008 Draycott Shiraz presents a deep garnet-purple color and earthy / savory notes of meat, underbrush, soil and truffles over a core of warm blackberry and black currant. Crisp, rich and full in the mouth, it has a medium level of grainy tannins and a long finish. Drink it now to 2017+. Burge Family Winemakers currently do not have a USA importer.

The 2006 Shiraz Draycott contains 2% Grenache and 2% Mourvedre aged in one-third new French barriques. Opaque purple-colored, it offers up a brooding bouquet of wood smoke, mineral, pencil lead, smoked meat, bacon, and blueberry compote. Thick and dense on the palate, at the moment it is a touch austere and will require 3-5 years of additional cellaring to more fully unwind. Drink this lengthy effort from 2013 to 2026. Burge Family Winemakers is impeccably operated by the veteran vigneron Rick Burge. All of the fruit is estate grown with some of the vineyards over 80 years of age. Burge’s Semillon is usually a benchmark for the varietal and has excellent aging potential in the manner of a top Pessac-Leognan Blanc.Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (805) 278-9095; www.burgefamily.com.au