1996 Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz

The Barossa Valley has become synonymous with Great Shiraz, and in part has been led by Penfolds Grange Hermitage, which is considered to be the International benchmark of Australian Shiraz. Grange does have its peers, such as Henschke Hill of Grace, Rockford Basket Press and Yalumba Octavius, these are all mighty wines, as is Grant Burge's Meshach.The 1996 is a wonderfully ripe wine, and is being released prior to the 1996 Grange, which gives the wine lover an insight as to how good a wine the Grange will be.Grant Burge uses fruit from 80 year old vines, grown on his Filsell vineyard. The combination of old vines, American oak, and low yields provide the formula for success, and the 1996 Meshach is very successful.

Opaque, black crimson colour. The nose immediately heralds a wine of great complexity, with aroma of vanilla, earth, spice, violets, liquorice and ripe plum. Whilst those aromas are complex enough, over the top comes a note that is more often associated with great Pinot than Shiraz - a hint of 'forest floor' - which can only be likened to a kaleidoscope of mint, truffle, pepper, tar and spice. It takes some time to discover all the nuances. The palate is totally mouthfilling and the aftertaste lasts for many minutes - echoing the greatness of this wine. The fruit is very ripe (with 13.9% Alcohol Volume) but by no means jammy. The vanillin oak flavours are perfectly integrated, yet assert themselves over the palate flavours of ripe plums, spice, vanilla, liquorice and blackpepper. Excellent depth and concentration of flavour. This is a Great Australian Shiraz, and whilst it may appear to be expensive, in relative terms is undervalued. Compare the price with Grange and Hill of Grace, which sell for three times the price, this wine certainly represents very fair value. Whilst the wine has a capacity to age for 10-15 years, we consider that it will be at its optimum in 5-8 years, although, if you opened a bottle today you would not be disappointed.