1996 Hardys Tintara Shiraz

This is an immense wine, which re-establishs the original Hardys Tintara brand. The 1995 vintage was launched last year and quickly sold out. The 1996 was made using a basket press and traditional open fermentation techniques. Opaque crimson colour with mauve edges. The nose is intense with superb ripe fruit aromas of plum and blackberry, supported by background aromas of spice, vanilla and confectionary.The palate has a twist of flavours that don't quite work all that well at the moment and require considerable time to mesh. The very ripe fruit flavours (14.5% Alcohol Volume) has produced pronounced plum and liquorice flavours which are followed by a mocha coffee and spearmint aftertaste. The mocha leaves an astringent finish which is exaggerated by the mint flavours making the wine disjointed - wait 2-3 years and drink within the next 5 years. Firmish tannin structure but in balance.