2002 Journeys End Vineyards The Beginning Shiraz

Retasted 03/06/2016: Totally opaque black dark red colour with a deep very dark red hue. Aromas of aniseed, liquorice allsorts and black cherry are followed by toasty oak, leather and spice. Lashings of rich aniseed and ripe black cherry flavours saturate the palate in opulent fashion over a back drop of toasty oak, scorched earth, some spicy leather and pepper. At 14 years of age it still has an abundance of fruit. The tannins have a velvety feel and the aftertaste is a prolonged one featuring liquoricy aniseed, ripe black cherries, toasty oak, earth, leather and pepper.
Drink now.
Alc 15%
 

First Tasted 11/06/2003: Once a decade, or perhaps even over a longer time, a wine comes along that offers extraordinary value for money. The 2002 Journeys End Beginning Shiraz is one such wine, James Halliday is rightly regarded as Australia’s foremost wine writers with over 50 books to his credit. His experience as an International Wine Judge, winemaker and proprietor is virtually unparalleled in this country. Each year Halliday tastes 1000’s of wines and publishes the results in his Wine Companion. The 2005 James Halliday Wine Companion produces quite a few surprises. The top rating Shiraz was the 2000 McWilliams Maurice O’Shea Shiraz at 97 points, Vintage Direct spotted this wine months ago and also rated it 97. The next tier of high scoring wines rated 96, amongst these were 2001 Best Thomson Family $65, 1999 Henschke Hill of Grace $288, 2002 Torbreck the Descendent $125, 1999 Saltram No. 1 $65 and JOURNEYS END THE BEGINNING $25. The 95 pointed wines included 1999 Penfolds Grange $400, 2000 Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz $175 and 1999 Grant Burge Meshach $100. An extraordinary result for Journeys End in what must be considered as a line up of Australian top wine icons.
What more can we say, except to suggest that you place your order ASAP!

This is the second release under the Journeys End Beginning label. It is a great follow up to the 2001 wine and certainly reflective of the great vintage of 2002. The label takes a big visual change, although in structure the format remains the same. The naked lady holding her newly born baby (the previous beginning of a Journey) has been replaced by a labyrinth, with its twists and turns indicating the often difficult path that life’s journey takes. The Shiraz has been made by BEN RIGGS, who is forging a formidable reputation as a winemaker both in Australia and overseas (two of his wines have received rave reviews from ROBERT PARKER – and his humble Woop Woop Shiraz awarded top marks by the New York Times). The wine has been made using 6 different Shiraz clones which adds complexing layers to the finished wine.

Tasting Notes: Opaque black crimson colour with black crimson hue. Excellent lifted nose of vanillin oak, spice and blackberry followed by end notes of liquorice and confectionary. The palate does not disappoint – still very youthful the structure is evident for medium term cellaring. Very spicy flavours, followed by a layer of strong black pepper and liquorice with a touch of mocca on the back palate. Perfectly balanced. Very fine dry tannins with very long aftertaste of spice, black pepper and liquorice.
Alc/Vol: 15.0%
RATING: 96/100

Other Reviews.....
***** BEGINNING SHIRAZ 2002
A wonderful wine; endlessly complex in terms of both flavour and structure; black fruits, dark chocolate, spice, tannins, and oak all seemlessly interwoven; carries 15 degrees alcohol with ease. DRINK 2022
96 points
'James Halliday - 2005 Australian Wine Companion'