2008 Best's Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz

Thomson Family Shiraz was first made in 1993, one hundred years after the Thomson family settled in the area. It is produced predominantly from the fifteen rows of vines planted by Henry Best, recorded as “Hermitage” by Henry in his daily journal. Today the clone is referred to by the CSIRO as the Concongella clone and it is the mother clone of all subsequent shiraz plantings at Best’s Great Western.

Aged in French oak this wine displays a totally opaque black purple colour with very deep black purple hue. Perfumed and complex the nose displays lifted scents of violets, liquorice allsorts, blackberry and confectionary with a subtle vanillin overlay and a hint of spice as an end note. The palate combines superb depth, richness and concentration but without the sumo wrestler bulkiness many South Australian counterparts can often display. Mouthfilling flavours of ripe blackberry, liquorice and confectionary with some underlying seamlessly integrated light toasty cedar followed by some vanilla and spice on the back palate. Silky smooth tannin structure with exceptionally long aftertaste of liquorice, confectionary, vanilla and spice.
Still relatively youthful this stunning Victorian Shiraz will cellar 10-15 years (2021-2026)
Alc 14.5%

Other Reviews.....
Coming from the original 1867 plantings and casting a very deep garnet-purple color, the 2008 Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz offers a complex array of fragrant floral, earth and berry aromas, with notes of black cherries, mulberries and blueberries over violets, red roses, cinnamon stick, allspice and ground ginger plus whiffs of black truffles and underbrush. Medium to full bodied and very concentrated, the palate is led by a taut structure of firm, tight-grained tannins and crisp acid with layers of flavors going long into the very persistent finish. Consider drinking this monumental effort 2013 to 2025+.
97+ points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate