2005 Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz

First tasted, June 2006:
A delightful young Shiraz. Very deep crimson colour with deep crimson mauve hue. Aromas of spicy plum, blackberry and vanilla with liquorice allsorts end notes. The palate has plenty of primary fruit flavours with ripe plum, spice and black cherry to the fore followed by nuances of vanilla on the back palate. Velvet smooth tannins. Aftertaste of spice, black cherry, vanilla and black pepper.
Cellar 2-3 years (2008-2009) 
Rating: 90 

Other reviews...
2005 was an extraordinary vintage in the Barossa, and Torbreck’s 2005 Woodcutters Shiraz may be the finest David Powell has yet produced. There are 25,000 cases of this beauty, which offers dazzling layers of fruit, texture, richness, and purity. Blackberry jam, creme de cassis, licorice, white flowers, and black olive scents jump from the glass of this full-bodied, silky-textured, gorgeous red. It is meant to be drunk during its first 2-4 years of life. The wine was kept on its skins for six days during which time amazing color and fruit were extracted. It was aged in old wood foudres, a la a southern Rhone, for 12 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. This knock-out effort is one of the great values in the marketplace.
92 points
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #165 (Jun 2006)