1999 Whistling Eagle Vineyard Eagles Blood Shiraz

We have watched the evolution of this wine for a year now and have been hounding winemaker & vigneron, Ian Rathjen for stock. Ian is one of those perfectionists who will only be activated when things are good and ready. A year ago the wine was rated 94/100 being down graded mainly on intensity and complexity. A year later the nose has evolved and the palate has had a chance to build. Suffice to say that the wine has now developed into a superb drinking experience. Totally opaque black crimson colour with black mauve hue. Superb aroma of plum, spice, vanilla, blackcurrant and violets with a blackpepper end note, which rapidly repositions itself as top note. The palate is an explosive essay of wonderfully ripe fruit. A classic Heathcote interplay of ripeness and blackpepper with both flavours dancing on the palate. Perfect balance with velvet tannins followed by an aftertaste that lasts more than five minutes. It hardly comes as a surprise that Rathjens is a good mate of Wild Duck Creek’s “Duck Muck” man, Dave Anderson, and hence the similarity of style. This is Heathcote’s new cult wine – if you manage to get it!
Cellar 4-5 years. (2006-2007)
Alc./Vol: 14.5%

Other reviews... The limited production 1999 Shiraz Eagle’s Blood exhibits a black/purple color in addition to a classic Shiraz bouquet of loamy, earthy notes intermixed with licorice, blackberries, pepper, and wood. Deep and full-bodied with tremendous purity as well as palate persistence, it should drink well for 10-12 years. Readers should be on the look-out for this noteworthy new edition from Heathcote. 91 points
- Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #148 Aug 2003