1998 Unison Vineyard Selection Dry Red

The Unison Selection Dry Red is the flagship of the Unison stable and is exceptional. Winewriters around the world have poured lavish praise on these wines, with one critic acclaiming "a classic red to break the hearts of top Bordeaux producers." This is lavish praise indeed from a relatively new vineyard, however, it vindicates the owners obsession to produce nothing but the best, and even more importantly that obsession is translated onto the nose and palate. The Selection is the very best that Unison is capable of producing. Parts of the vineyard were monitored that produced exceptional parcels of fruit, and the viticultural practices were further refined to maximize flavour and complexity. The finished wine is an expression of sophisticated complexity, that begins with careful site selection, meticulous viticultural practice and very careful winemaking.Opaque crimson mauve colour. Superb, complex layered nose with a rare combination of aromas. The high note is very rare, and found in only the very best of wines, and expresses itself as the aroma of marzipan, which is intermeshed with notes of violets, spice, blackcurrant and liquorice. The palate structure is superb - refined with flavours of mulberry, cedar, blackcurrant and oak followed by touches of plum and liquorice on the back palate. Outstanding length and concentration of flavour. Velvet smooth tannins are followed by an exceptionally long aftertaste. The blend - Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Cellar 5-8 years. As John Ruskin would say "Quality is never an accident, it is the result of intelligent effort." Stocks are very limited!