This dense red is dark as night and chewy with tannins, boiling with black olive, licorice and dried black cherry flavors that steamroll through the tannins on the meaty, expressive finish. Best from 2011 through 2020. 700 cases made.??–HS??Region: Australia / Barossa / Barossa Valley Select to Add

The 2007 Shiraz Bad Impersonator was sourced from a single vineyard and spent 20 months in seasoned French oak. It sports an alluring nose of cedar, spice box, smoke, bacon, and blueberry. Ripe, supple, and well-balanced on the palate, the savory flavors are already revealing some complexity. This lengthy effort will evolve for 1-2 years and drink well from 2011 to 2019. Michael Twelftree’s Two Hands negociant label is solid but not quite up to the standards established by the past several years because of the challenging 2007 and 2008 vintages in South Australia. The wines are discussed in the order in which they were presented. The Garden Series is designed to highlight Shiraz from a diversity of appellations (or GIs as they are known in Australia). Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; www.twohandswines.com

Smooth and polished, with a pretty mint note adding interest to the blueberry and blackberry flavors, persisting expressively on the long, generous finish. Drink now through 2016. 275 cases made.??–HS??Region: Australia / Barossa / Barossa Valley Select to Add