1996 Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz

Opaque crimson mauve purple colour, holding its age superbly well with no sign of development. The nose delivers a superb sniff – with notes of violets, vanilla, spice, confectionary and plum emerging. The palate flavour continues to impress with flavours of dark chocolate, plum, spice & liquorice evident followed by back palate flavours of vanilla and confectionary. Fine, dry tannin, perfectly balanced, followed by a very long aftertaste of blackcurrant, liquorice and dark chocolate. Cellar 3-4 years (2007-2008) Alc/Vol 14.5%RATING: 96/100VALUE: XXXXX/5

Notes sourced from Fox Creek Wines. (December 2000)

The first thing that is evident about this, and previous vintages of this wine is the characteristic "black" colour. The special trellising of the Shiraz vines allows the ripening grapes to be fully exposed to the sun, maximising the colour and flavour of the wine.The aroma is a complex and intense, rich array of plum, dark chocolate, mocha and spicy new American oak. The wine is big, bold and beautiful. The intensity of the aroma follows through to the palate showing rich chocolate spiciness with fully integrated and well balanced oak flavours. This wine has extreme length of flavour and finishes with tannins of remarkable softness, considering the age of the wine.