1993 St. Hallett Old Block Shiraz

Old vines produce vines of great depth and concentration offlavour - with often deceptively silky smooth tannins, which aresomewhat of a surprise. The 1993 St. Hallett Old Block is a bigand very generous red with a profoundly peppery long aftertaste.IF THIS WAS PACKAGED AS PENFOLDS GRANGEONE WOULD HAPPILY SHELL OUT $150 - $200That is the power of tradition and marketing hype. The wine hasbeen made from vines planted 80-100 years ago and has spent twoand a half years in American oak - quite a while. Yet it doesnot show excessive oak character.Deep brick red colour. The nose displays abundant ripe plum,blackberry, confectionary and vanilla aromas with only minorpepper spice notes - but wait! On the palate and aftertaste theblackpeppers sneak up and totally encompass the palates strongblackberry fruit quality. The ripe fruit flavours are inabundance, yet the wine displays remarkable harmony andconcentration with just silky smooth tannins. This is a winethat is so easy to drink now or certainly forget for the next 15years. In spite of the price rises in recent years, the StHallett Old Block Shiraz is still an absolute bargain!\Z