1998 Clarendon Hills Brookman Vineyard Shiraz

A near perfect wine, and quite individual particularly in the way the charred oak is handled. Dense crimson colour with mauve edges. Magnificent nose with an exotic array of aromas mixed into a smokey oak background that make the nose quite unique yet masterly in its juxapositioning. Aromas of toasted smokey oak, plum, spice, liquorice allsorts, ripe plum and blackberries. The palate is a superb expression of fruit concentrate. The smokey character is enhanced by the ripe plum, liquorice and spice flavours. Totally mouth filling. Perfect balance, fine grained tannins followed by an exceptionally long plum, spice, liquorice allsorts and toasted oak aftertaste. Cellar 8 to 10 years.

Retasted: 17 March 2000

Totally opaque, crimson black, purple colour. Aroma of game, spice, earth and plum with confectionery, liquorice end notes. Mouthfilling palate with considerable complexity and almost total concentrate. Flavours of spice, liquorice, raspberry, plum and confectionery. Colossal palate weight. Perfect balance and exceptionally long aftertaste. Cellar 8-10 years.