This was the first iconic wine that I ever tasted. I still recall parting with my pocket money with glee! This is of red fruit notes as it is of black. Yet at this nascent stage, a herbal potpourri is slathered across a carapace of oak cedars, impeccably wrought slinky tannins and dutiful acidity. A seamless sheath! The wine's pulse is forceful and the finish long, although it is far from heavy in any way. JH
It is only medium-bodied, but has a quiet insistence that brooks no argument, opening proceedings with the fragrant spicy/earthy/red fruits triptych of the bouquet (oak doesn't seek to dominate at any stage). The medium-bodied palate is supple, perfectly balanced and has great length. In many ways, this could be argued to be the ultimate distillation of Australian red wines made over the past 155 years. JH