2002 Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz

A wine with enormous weight and concentration of flavour. Totally opaque black purple colour with black purple hue. The nose leaps out of the glass to reveal concentrated notes of blackberry, spice, vanilla, plum and violets. The palate has enormous weight, with essence like concentration of flavours. Obesely voluptuous flavours of liquorice allsorts, choo choo bar (liquorice concentrate), spice, dark chocolate, white pepper and vanilla. The tannins are fine grained, dry, but balanced. Layers of toasted oak over vanilla, liquorice and very ripe blackberries. A totally over the top red – The Old Bastards a big bastard! Limited stocks.
Cellar 4-5 years (2008-2009)
Alc./Vol.15%RATING: 96/100VALUE: XXXX/5

Robert Parker's Review
The flagship offering, the 2002 Shiraz Old Bastard was fashioned from a vineyard planted in 1896, and was cropped at one ton of fruit per acre. It spent 22 months in French oak before being bottled with neither fining nor filtration. A spectacular perfume of raspberries, plums, blackberries, espresso, vanilla, and charcoal is followed by a tannic Shiraz with a huge palate, massive concentration, tremendous richness, and a multidimensional flavor profile. Less alcoholic (15.2%) than The Bogan, it should be cellared for 4-6 years, and consumed over the following 20-25. While the 2002 is a brilliant effort, it is not quite as massive as the 2001 ... but that’s splitting hairs.
(Notes sourced from Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #155)
ROBERT PARKER'S RATING: 96 points

Other reviews……

Gloriously concentrated and intense essence of Shiraz; seamless black fruits and tannins; immaculate oak handling. From 1893 plantings.

Rating 96

Drink 2022
“James Halliday - 2006 Australian Wine Companion”