2002 R.L. Buller & Son Calliope Shiraz

Buller’s ability to produce super blockbuster reds seems to have diminished in the last few years, however, this wine will project Richard and Andrew into the superConcentrated wine stakes. Just how big can ‘big’ get before it becomes too big? This is the question being posed by US wine critic STEPHEN TANZER. Australia is very fortunate in that its wide variety of climates allow many different styles of wines to be grown, Shiraz is one of those grape varieties that can take relatively high alcohol levels without developing porty flavours.

TASTING NOTES: Totally opaque colour – a saturate of black purple. Perfumed nose of ripe blood plum, vanilla, spice and violets. The palate has monumental fruit concentration, virtually an extract of Shiraz. Some, like Tanzer and Jeremy Oliver, will find this wine totally over the top – well that’s what makes wine different and so enjoyable. Explosive flavours of blackberry juice, black pepper, plum and vanilla.Fine grained tannins, excellent balance with very long aftertaste of dark chocolate, plum, black pepper and mocha. – A ‘super joosy red!’
Cellar 5-8 years (2009-2012)
Alc./Vol.16%