Australia wines in the Flickinger Fine Wines inventory http://www.flickingerwines.com/wineregions/australian.asp http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/AustralianDomaineWines.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BallycroftVineyardandCellars.aspWS 91 (3/1999): Ripe, rich and exotic, here's a big mouthful of anise- and pepper-scented black fruit flavors; a gooey wine with layers of character that last nicely on the finish. Firm tannins can use cellaring. Best from 2000 through 2005. 1,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BarossaValleyEstate.aspWA 95 (8/2003): The 2001 Shiraz Smith’s Folly (15.6% alcohol) is fashioned from a selection of the best Eden Valley barrels. A tour de force in winemaking, it is a European-styled South Australian Shiraz boasting an inky purple color in addition to gorgeous aromas of ink, graphite, white flowers, and blackberries. It is an intense, powerful yet remarkably measured, restrained effort that holds everything together with good structure and decent acidity. The purity and persistence (the finish lasts nearly a minute) are awesome. It should hit its peak in 2-3 years, and last for 15+.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BartonVale.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BartonVale.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Bedford.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JPBelle-Terroir.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TheBlackChook.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BurgeFamily.aspWA 89 (2/2000): Owner Rick Burge's 1997 Shiraz Draycott is light-styled. A blend of 70% Shiraz and 30% Grenache, the 1997 Draycott exhibits a dark ruby color, in addition to a pleasant, sweet, blackberry and cherry-scented nose with pepper and earth undertones. Lush, fruit-driven, and supple, it will drink well for 5-7 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BurgeFamily.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BurgeFamily.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BurgeFamily.aspWA 92 (6/2001): The ripeness and concentration, volume, and full style from the 1998 vintage is evident in the 1998 Grenache Old Vines. Made from vines ranging in age from 70 to 80-years old, this 100% Grenache cuvee (400 cases) shows serious cherry liqueur notes in the nose, along with some roasted notes, a full-bodied, lavishly rich palate filled with fruit and glycerin, and a fleshy, rather juicy and succulent finish. It is not meant for long-term aging, but for drinking over the next 4-5 years. This will score high on the pleasure meter.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BurgeFamily.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Campbells.aspWS 87 (12/2003): Smooth in texture, aromatic with cherry, menthol and pepper, carrying through with solid fruit and spice that echoes on the finish. Drink now through 2005. 1,800 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CapeDEstaing.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Cimicky.aspWA 98 (6/2009): A sensational wine, the 1998 Syrah Astralis is a candidate for perfection. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as a big, complex, sweet perfume of charcoal, spring flowers, blackberry liqueur, roasted meats, and damp, forest floor-like notes. Enormously endowed, with good acid, backstrapping tannin levels, fabulous concentration, and a layered mouthfeel, it is beginning to throw off some of its closed, impenetrable personality. A long-termer, it needs another 5-7 years to fully open, and should last for 2-3 decades thereafter. VM 95+ (7/2000): Bright dark ruby. Very fresh but brooding aromas of crystallized black raspberry, violet, dark chocolate, mocha and game. Rather closed and unforthcoming on the palate, but the wine's great depth of flavor and precision are already apparent. A step up from the last two wines in sheer intensity. Finishes with great sweetness of fruit, superb grip, and noble tannins that coat the teeth. This will be lush with five or six years of bottle age. Also tasted: 1998 Shiraz Brookman Vineyard Clarendon. WS 95 (12/2008): Firm in texture, with tannins that tightly wrap up the dense, focused blackberry, tar and licorice flavors, finishing with some elegance. It takes several sips to show what this has, but it comes together beautifully on the finish. Syrah.--Australian reds blind retrospective. 480 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClarendonHills.aspWA 98 (2/2000): Readers looking for a clone of the famed Clarendon Hills luxury cuvee of 100% Shiraz called Astralis can find it in the 1997 Shiraz La Testa. This is a profound, prodigiously rich wine with a saturated black/purple color and knock-out aromas of burning charcoal fire, jammy blackberries, cassis, and melted asphalt. Extremely full-bodied, with a viscous texture and high alcohol, this enormously endowed wine will improve for 10-15 years, and last for three decades. An impressive new producer that will thrill wine enthusiasts!VM 96 (8/2000): Medium ruby. Penetrating, slightly high-toned, remarkably complex nose melds crushed dark berries, flowers, pepper and maple syrup. Impossibly concentrated, thick and sappy; somehow manages a Northern Rhone-like surmaturite without loss of clarity or verve. Exhilarating flavors of peppery black fruits and licorice. Already shows great inner-mouth floral tones. Finishes with firm but ripe tannins and great persistence. Incredible shiraz. WS 90 (9/2000): Firm and earthy. Distinctive for its blast of mint and anise that weaves strongly through the supple plum and berry flavors. A stylish red that needs cellaring to be at its best. Best after 2004. 100 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClassicMcLaren.aspVM 90 (8/2005): Violet-tinged ruby. High-toned floral, smoked meat and bitter cherry aromas, with a pungent, peaty earth note. Firm on the palate, with a carnal, earthy, raw meat quality to complement the sweet dark berry and cherry flavors, which are nicely framed by fresh pepper and silky tannins. The musky, sweet underbrush and cassis qualities linger on the finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Clayfield.aspWA 95 (10/2005): Even more intense than the 2003, the 2002 Exile is a superb example of this fabulous vintage in Barossa. Black/purple-colored with sensational purity, a blackberry liqueur, cassis intensity, and beautifully integrated wood, alcohol, and tannin, this large yet brilliantly balanced effort can be drunk now, but promises to age effortlessly for 10-15 years.WS 91 (12/2004): Ripe and generous, teeming with spicy, peppery, slightly earthy blackberry, cocoa bean and tar flavors, finishing with fine texture and sharp focus. Shiraz, Mourvèdre and Grenache. Drink now through 2012. 1,000 cases made.VM 90 (8/2004): Bright medium ruby. Deeply pitched aromas of black cherry, chocolate, mocha and woodsmoke. Thick, superconcentrated and dense; fatter than the Emigre but less vibrant, with lower-toned, somewhat saline flavors of berries, chocolate, and nut skin. Finishes thick, nutty and very long, with building tannins. A more massive wine than the Emigre, but I preferred the Emigre.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ColonialEstate.aspWA 95 (10/2005): Even more intense than the 2003, the 2002 Exile is a superb example of this fabulous vintage in Barossa. Black/purple-colored with sensational purity, a blackberry liqueur, cassis intensity, and beautifully integrated wood, alcohol, and tannin, this large yet brilliantly balanced effort can be drunk now, but promises to age effortlessly for 10-15 years.WS 91 (12/2004): Ripe and generous, teeming with spicy, peppery, slightly earthy blackberry, cocoa bean and tar flavors, finishing with fine texture and sharp focus. Shiraz, Mourvèdre and Grenache. Drink now through 2012. 1,000 cases made.VM 90 (8/2004): Bright medium ruby. Deeply pitched aromas of black cherry, chocolate, mocha and woodsmoke. Thick, superconcentrated and dense; fatter than the Emigre but less vibrant, with lower-toned, somewhat saline flavors of berries, chocolate, and nut skin. Finishes thick, nutty and very long, with building tannins. A more massive wine than the Emigre, but I preferred the Emigre.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ColonialEstate.aspWA 95 (10/2005): Even more intense than the 2003, the 2002 Exile is a superb example of this fabulous vintage in Barossa. Black/purple-colored with sensational purity, a blackberry liqueur, cassis intensity, and beautifully integrated wood, alcohol, and tannin, this large yet brilliantly balanced effort can be drunk now, but promises to age effortlessly for 10-15 years.WS 91 (12/2004): Ripe and generous, teeming with spicy, peppery, slightly earthy blackberry, cocoa bean and tar flavors, finishing with fine texture and sharp focus. Shiraz, Mourvèdre and Grenache. Drink now through 2012. 1,000 cases made.VM 90 (8/2004): Bright medium ruby. Deeply pitched aromas of black cherry, chocolate, mocha and woodsmoke. Thick, superconcentrated and dense; fatter than the Emigre but less vibrant, with lower-toned, somewhat saline flavors of berries, chocolate, and nut skin. Finishes thick, nutty and very long, with building tannins. A more massive wine than the Emigre, but I preferred the Emigre.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ColonialEstate.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WilliamDownie.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WilliamDownie.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WilliamDownie.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Dutschke.aspWS 94 (10/2007): A beautiful evocation of plum and blackberry balanced against a veil of creamy oak--but only a veil. It's the fruit that distinguishes the long, expressive finish. Shiraz. Best from 2009 through 2017. 1,000 cases imported.WA 93 (10/2007): The 2005 Entity is 100% Shiraz, 100% barrel-fermented in 45% new French oak. Opaque purple-colored, it delivers a nearly ethereal perfume of smoky oak, spice box, pencil lead, meat, game, violets, and blueberry muffin. Full-bodied yet surprisingly elegant, this Shiraz has superb balance, great depth, layers of flavor, and a very long, pure finish. It will surely evolve for 6-8 years but few will be able to delay their gratification. IWC 93 (8/2007): Deep violet. Hugely aromatic nose combines powerful blackberry, dark cherry, licorice, mocha and violet scents. Lush and velvety, but with bright minerality giving the dark berry flavors remarkable vivacity. Fills out with air, picking up deeper espresso and high-octane chocolate notes. But this is all about fresh, energetic, pure fruit. Finishes on a bright, nervy note of berry skin, with superb length.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JohnDuval.aspWA 91 (4/1997): Elderton's 1995 Shiraz will be a big hit with anyone lucky enough to run across any of the several hundred cases that were imported to the United States. Dark ruby/purple-colored, with a seductive, sweet, vanillin, and jammy black fruit-scented nose, this wine is crammed with copious quantities of extract, fruit, glycerin, and concentration. As hedonistic a Shiraz as readers are likely to find, this voluptuously-textured, round, expansively-flavored wine is deliciously pure, and dramatic. Its low acidity and glorious levels of fruit should insure an enthusiastic reception. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.WS 91 (6/1997): Nicely proportioned, with a harmonious chorus of berry, black cherry, sweet anise and earth flavors. A bit raw with tannin on the finish, but just give this beauty until 1999 to 2000 to show all it has.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Elderton.aspWS 95 (6/2000): A superrich and jammy Aussie red sporting a wonderful array of black cherry, wild berry, seductive toasty oak and spice nuances. The texture is silky-smooth, the finish a mile-long. Drink now through 2008. 1,800 cases made. WA 94 (4/1999): The opaque purple-colored 1995 Command Shiraz boasts huge toasty American oak aromas intermixed with thrilling levels of jammy black raspberry and berry fruit. The wine is explosively rich, with low acidity, and spectacular concentration and purity. Although not complex, it is mouth-filling, teeth-staining, and ostentatious. Drink it over the next 7-10+ years. I suspect This wine will become more civilized and less exuberant with bottle age. Elderton's wines are not for tasters seeking subtlety and elegance. This is an outrageously oaky, flamboyantly-styled offering with immense hedonistic appeal. VM 90 (8/2000): Full, deep ruby. Exotic wood spices, tar, plum, blackberry, black cherry and licorice on the nose. Sweet and dense in the mouth, but given verve by pungent minerality and firm acidity. Strong element of tarry oak. A powerfully structured wine with noteworthy extract. Finishes with pungent oak notes, good grip and very good length. Showing riper and more harmonious than a sample tasted a year ago.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Elderton.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/EppalockRidge.aspWA 87 (10/2004): A fine Shiraz from Victoria, Euroa Creek’s 2002 exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of black fruits, earth, and pepper. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, and lively, it should be enjoyed over the next 3-4 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/EuroaCreeks.aspWA 95 (4/1999): The profound 1997 Shiraz/Cabernets JSM, made from 61% Shiraz, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon (14.5% alcohol and 2,500 cases produced), is a massive, complex yet elegant, and incredibly harmonious wine. The color is a saturated black/purple. This full-bodied wine is bursting with richness and the complex, savory elements that will make wine lovers go ga-ga. A thrilling, full-flavored offering, this wine is just beginning to strut its stuff. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2015. Celestial black currants intermixed with coffee, licorice, Asian spices, and pain grille notes are more reminiscent of a blockbuster vintage of Mouton-Rothschild than what I would expect from a Shiraz/Cabernets blend.WS 85 (6/2000): A core of cherry and tobacco gives way to a tannic structure in this lean red. May improve with time. Shiraz, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2001 through 2004. 2,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FoxCreek.aspWA 96 (4/1999): The 1997 Shiraz Reserve conceals its nearly 15% alcohol behind a cascade of incredibly rich, concentrated fruit. This wine sees only new American oak. It boasts an opaque black/purple color in addition to knock-out aromas of melted asphalt, blackberries, truffles, and licorice. Cherry jam notes also emerge in the flavors. Unctuously-textured, incredibly ripe, pure, and full-bodied, this wine would make even Australia's Grange look wimpish if tasted side by side. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025. Celestial black currants intermixed with coffee, licorice, Asian spices, and pain grille notes are more reminiscent of a blockbuster vintage of Mouton-Rothschild than what I would expect from a Shiraz/Cabernets blend. VM 92 (8/1999): Bright, saturated dark ruby. Extravagantly ripe aromas of dark berries, mocha, licorice, road tar and shoe polish. Lush, urgent, very concentrated dark berry and mint flavors are given clarity by bright acids. Powerfully structured to age. Finishes with substantial but ripe tannins and impressive persistence. Among the two or three most impressive examples of Australian shiraz I've tasted this year. WS 89 (6/2000): Eccentric and distinctive. Ripe up front, like a Port, with exuberant berry, violet and wet earth flavors. Lacks a little flesh midpalate, with dry tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2002. 2,500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FoxCreek.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GCGWines.aspWA 95 (10/2004): The flagship offering, the 2002 Shiraz, is produced from 90- to 100-year-old dry-farmed vineyards that yielded a microscopic .25-1 ton of fruit per acre. Aged 15 months in 100% new American oak barrels and hogsheads, its inky/purple color is accompanied by tantalizing aromas of charcoal, acacia flowers, blackberry liqueur, blueberries, and cassis. This deep, full-bodied, smoky, rich, full-throttle Shiraz is remarkably well-balanced as well as intense. Give it 1-3 more years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 10-15.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Glaetzer.aspWA 98 (10/2006): The profound 2005 Shiraz Amon Ra is fashioned from a dry grown, 100- to 110 year-old vineyard, and spends 14 months in a combination of 100% new French and American barrels as well as 300-liter hogsheads. A saturated purple color is followed by scents of creme de cassis, incense, licorice, black raspberries, graphite, and sweet wood. It unfolds beautifully on the palate to reveal terrific richness, full-bodied power, great definition, and lovely elegance. This exquisite Shiraz is still young, but it possesses a degree of accessibility. It should age for two decades. It is a superb example of cutting edge winemaking being utilized on ancient Shiraz vines in the Barossa.WS 92 (5/2007): Smooth, round and spicy, with star anise and soy sauce overtones to the rich cherry and toast flavors, lingering on the generous finish. Has depth and impressive detail. Best from 2008 through 2015. 1,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Glaetzer.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Glaetzer.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Glaetzer.aspIWC 86 (8/2001): Deep red. Floral aromas of cassis, mint and sweet oak. Berry and tar flavors begin with good density, then turn a bit pinched owing to edgy acids. Slight weedy note on the back half. But finishes with fine tannins and sneaky persistence.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Glaetzer.aspWA 93 (10/2006): The 2005 Godolphin, a blend of 80% Shiraz (from 85-year-old vines) and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon (from 60-year-old vines), was aged in 100% new oak, primarily 300-liter French hogsheads. It represents a beautiful marriage of power and elegance, displaying an inky/blue/purple color as well as notions of black raspberries, blueberries, graphite, and sweet pain grille. Ripe, pure, and medium to full-bodied with sweet but noticeable tannin, it can be drunk now or cellared for 12-15 years.IWC 93 (8/2007): Dark purple. The nose offers an explosively aromatic array of sexy red and dark berry scents accompanied by vanilla, sandalwood, cola and baking spices. Precise blackberry and boysenberry flavors reach every nook and cranny of the palate and seem to gain energy on the finish. Extremely appealing, suave and fresh, offering a striking melange of bright and ripe qualities. WS 89 (5/2007): Dense and distinctive for its anise- and herb-scented cassis and dried tomato flavors that linger effectively on the round finish. Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2010. 2,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Glaetzer.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Glaymond.aspWA 90 (6/2001): The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 11-year old vines, aged in a combination of one-year old and new French oak) is a fruit-dominated wine with the classic cassis intermixed with a touch of herbs, a slight notion of volatile acidity, and a spicy finish. The wine is full-bodied, ripe, but at the same time, elegant, particularly for a Greenock Creek wine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GreenockCreekCellars.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GreenockCreekCellars.aspWA 98 (6/2001): A near-perfect wine is the 1998 Shiraz Creek Block, a wine made from 62-year old Shiraz aged in a combination of new and French oak. Sadly, there are only 100 cases of this opaque, purple-colored, full-bodied classic. The wine shows terrific notes of beef blood, new saddle leather, blackberry liqueur, smoke, and earth. Extremely full-bodied yet seamless, with dazzling levels of extract and ripeness, this is a tour de force in winemaking, but sadly, there is too little of it. It looks to have the potential to go 20-30 years.IWC 91+ (8/2001): Ruby-red. Complex, highly aromatic nose of raw currant, smoked meat, minerals and pepper, along with a whiff of rubber. Concentrated, dense and quite fresh, with the raw berry character carrying through on the palate. Much sweeter and spicier than the distinctly vegetal, underripe Seven Acre shiraz that preceded it. Finishes sweet and long.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GreenockCreekCellars.aspWA 94 (10/2002): Made by winemakers Michael Waugh and Chris Ringland at the Rockford winery in Barossa, the 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Roennfeldt Road (120 cases from 50-year old vines) was aged for three years in new French oak. Its 13.4% alcohol is modest by Barossa standards. An opaque purple color is followed by gorgeous aromas of blueberry and blackberry liqueur intermixed with flower, camphor, and vanilla scents. Marvelously rich and full-bodied, with a viscous texture, superb purity, and a multilayered, skyscraper personality, this is profound stuff! Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GreenockCreekCellars.aspVM 87+ (8/2004): Bright medium ruby. Cassis, violet and black licorice aromas. Primary, highly concentrated but hard-edged flavors of black fruits and violet. Penetrating acidity gives the wine an ungiving quality and dries its finish. Youthfully aggressive today, but finishes with good length and fairly ripe tannins. Perhaps this is in an awkward stage. Reportedly made from a crop level of just 1.3 tons of fruit per acre.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/HaresChase.aspVM 87+ (8/2004): Bright medium ruby. Cassis, violet and black licorice aromas. Primary, highly concentrated but hard-edged flavors of black fruits and violet. Penetrating acidity gives the wine an ungiving quality and dries its finish. Youthfully aggressive today, but finishes with good length and fairly ripe tannins. Perhaps this is in an awkward stage. Reportedly made from a crop level of just 1.3 tons of fruit per acre.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/HaresChase.aspWA 94 (10/2005): From 40-year-old vines, the extraordinary, super-intense 2003 Shiraz Barossa Valley possesses an opaque purple color as well as a big, full-bodied bouquet of creme de cassis, blueberry, creosote, smoke, and background oak, and a heady alcohol content. This limited production cuvee boasts purity and intensity in addition to a multidimensional personality. It should drink well for 7-10 years, possibly longer.WS 93 (9/2005): Dense and spicy, with a rich core of blueberry, plum and cherry fruit that rises through a layer of fine tannins to take over the finish. Has power and style, and it just doesn't quit. Best from 2007 through 2020. 150 cases imported. IWC 90 (7/2005): Deep, saturated ruby. Really exotic on the nose, expressing blackberry, cassis, licorice candy and gingerbread, with subtle, sexy oak spices. Dense and thick but by no means lacking freshness, with adamant blackcurrant and kirsch flavors. Finishes with very good definition and lively spicy blackberry flavor.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hazyblur.aspVM 91 (7/2006): Inky purple. Dense, brooding dark berry aromas accented by vanilla, smoked meat and dark chocolate. Rich and creamy on the palate, the persistent boysenberry and candied plum flavors lifted by subtle, brightening acidity and a hint of cracked pepper. Finishes youthfully firm, but with excellent depth to its vibrant dark fruit flavors.WS 91 (10/2006): Ripe, rich and beautifully focused to show off its fresh flavors of blueberry, plum and sweet spices, lingering smoothly on the long finish with support from fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2014. 500 cases made.WA 89 (10/2006): Cut from the same mold as the Baroota, but revealing more complexity is the 2004 Shiraz Barossa (from 28-year old vines). It boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a sweet nose of white chocolate, blackberries, pepper, and toasty oak. With superb fruit, glycerin, opulence, and a chewy, long finish, it should evolve for 10-12+ years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hazyblur.aspVM 91 (7/2006): Inky purple. Dense, brooding dark berry aromas accented by vanilla, smoked meat and dark chocolate. Rich and creamy on the palate, the persistent boysenberry and candied plum flavors lifted by subtle, brightening acidity and a hint of cracked pepper. Finishes youthfully firm, but with excellent depth to its vibrant dark fruit flavors.WS 91 (10/2006): Ripe, rich and beautifully focused to show off its fresh flavors of blueberry, plum and sweet spices, lingering smoothly on the long finish with support from fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2014. 500 cases made.WA 89 (10/2006): Cut from the same mold as the Baroota, but revealing more complexity is the 2004 Shiraz Barossa (from 28-year old vines). It boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a sweet nose of white chocolate, blackberries, pepper, and toasty oak. With superb fruit, glycerin, opulence, and a chewy, long finish, it should evolve for 10-12+ years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hazyblur.aspVM 91 (7/2006): Inky purple. Dense, brooding dark berry aromas accented by vanilla, smoked meat and dark chocolate. Rich and creamy on the palate, the persistent boysenberry and candied plum flavors lifted by subtle, brightening acidity and a hint of cracked pepper. Finishes youthfully firm, but with excellent depth to its vibrant dark fruit flavors.WS 91 (10/2006): Ripe, rich and beautifully focused to show off its fresh flavors of blueberry, plum and sweet spices, lingering smoothly on the long finish with support from fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2014. 500 cases made.WA 89 (10/2006): Cut from the same mold as the Baroota, but revealing more complexity is the 2004 Shiraz Barossa (from 28-year old vines). It boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a sweet nose of white chocolate, blackberries, pepper, and toasty oak. With superb fruit, glycerin, opulence, and a chewy, long finish, it should evolve for 10-12+ years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hazyblur.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hazyblur.aspVM 93+ (7/1998): Deep ruby-red. Knockout aromas of pungent crushed berries, minerals, chocolate and game; sexy and primal. Superconcentrated but still tight on the palate thanks to a firm acid spine; communicates a gamey, truffley sweetness and a dusty impression of extract. Finishes with substantial but fine tannins and explosive fruit. Very impressive. Stephen Tanzer. WS 92 (6/1998): Very ripe and concentrated, dense and sharply focused, its blackberry-scented currant, plum and tar flavors swirl through the deep finish. Delicious now; best from 2000 through 2010.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Henschke.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hobbs.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hobbs.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hobbs.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hobbs.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hobbs.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hobbs.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Hobbs.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MountHorrocks.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Howarths.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/HuttonVale.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/HuttonVale.aspWS 94 (8/2016): Juicy and vibrant, featuring a mouthwatering mix of huckleberry, wild blueberry and boysenberry flavors at the core. Features plush, velvety tannins. Drink now through 2026.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Jamsheed.aspWA 88 (2/2000): An impeccably made, symmetrical, unfiltered Merlot, that has been aged in French oak, this 1997 reveals dark berry fruit, medium to full body, adequate acidity, attractive sweetness, and a nicely-textured, glycerin-imbued finish. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RobertJohnson.aspWA 92 (2/2000): The 1996 Shiraz Reserve Wild Witch is produced from a 35-year old vineyard. Yields were a meager one ton of fruit per acre. The stunning nose reveals scents of freshly ground pepper intermixed with pain grille, blackberry and raspberry fruit. With awesome concentration, medium to full body, and zesty underlying tangy acidity, this complex yet firmly-structured, backward Shiraz needs 2-3 years of cellaring, after which it should unfold nicely for at least 15 years. Impressive! VM 90+ (8/2000): Ruby-red. Cherry, mint, mahogany and torrefaction notes of mocha and bitter chocolate on the nose. Very intensely flavored but currently folded in on itself. Juicy but tight. The tannins are firm but nicely integrated. Finishes with a hint of greenness but shows sneaky length.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TrevorJones.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TrevorJones.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TrevorJones.aspIWC 93 (7/2006): Dense violet. Powerful, focused aromas of boysenberry, candied plum, creme de cassis, toasty oak, star anise and succulent herbs. Deep, weighty and rich, with sweet, mouthfilling dark fruit flavors held in check by supple tannins and enlivened by a bright, pleasantly bitter note of rhubarb. Expansive and spicy on the back, with the blackberry and blackcurrant flavors gaining in sweetness but not weight. Lovely stuff.WS 91 (10/2006): Dense and chewy, a substantial mouthful of dark-hued fruit, pepper and licorice flavors that steamroll through the gritty tannins on the long, formidable finish, where smoky notes also add interest. Needs cellaring. Best after 2010. 500 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TrevorJones.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TrevorJones.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Joseph(PrimoEstate).asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Kaesler.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Kaesler.aspWA 96 (10/2005): The 2003 Shiraz Old Bastard is a candidate for Shiraz of the vintage from South Australia. Exhibiting an inky/purple color along with serious velocity and intensity, it is a superb expression of top-notch Barossa Valley Shiraz. A glorious perfume of charcoal, blackberry liqueur, smoke, and vanilla is followed by an enormous, but neither heavy nor over-ripe wine that is a testament to the winemaking skills of Reid Bosward. This big, pure, rich Shiraz can be drunk now or cellared for 10-15 years.IWC 92 (8/2005): Deep, bright ruby. Flamboyantly ripe aromas of singed blackberry, creme de cassis, peppered bacon, mocha, dried rose and oak spices, plus an exotic note of blood orange. Rich, velvety and dense, with sweet, powerful flavors of blackcurrant, fruitcake, fudge, vanilla and black olive, all lifted by a floral top note. Finishes long and sweet, with fully enveloped tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Kaesler.aspWA 94-96 (8/2003): The 2002 Shiraz Stonehorse (the least expensive of Kaesler’s Shiraz offerings) is spectacular. It is indicative of just how special this vintage is in the Barossa. It is a teeth-staining, mouth-filling, extremely concentrated Shiraz displaying a level of quality that makes the 2002 Bogan and 2002 Old Bastard’s potential quality level look scary. The inky purple-colored Stonehorse offers a great perfume, beautifully integrated wood, and sensational richness as well as length. A prodigious effort that easily conceals its 15.5% alcohol, it should drink well for 10-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Kaesler.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Kaesler.aspWA 96 (10/2006): Aged in new and one-year-old American oak, and made in a completely different style, the 2005 Shiraz The Bogan (from 25- to 105-year-old vines) is a dense purple-colored effort displaying an exuberant nose of toast, blackberries, cassis, cherries, and damp earth. It is full-bodied and powerful with fabulous purity and texture as well as a blockbuster finish. This is a classic example of Barossa Shiraz at its finest. Enjoy it over the next 12-15 years. VM 93 (7/2007): Inky violet. Explosively perfumed bouquet of creme de mure, blueberry, vanilla, rose, clove and cinnamon. Velvety in texture and strikingly sweet, with powerful dark berry and cherry flavors underscored by strong vanillin oak. But this doesn't come off as woody, thanks to immensely concentrated dark berry fruit, which seems to explode on the aftertaste. Wonderfully expressive shiraz with the depth and balance to repay cellaring. But it's hard to resist today.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Kaesler.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Kalleske.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KayBrothersAmeryVyds.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KayBrothersAmeryVyds.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KayBrothersAmeryVyds.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KayBrothersAmeryVyds.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Killibinbin.aspWA 92 (10/2004): An outstanding as well as fairly priced effort, this flamboyant, exuberant 2002 Shiraz Boundary Row is no shy wine at 15% alcohol. However, that component is well-concealed behind a wealth of licorice-infused blackberry and currant fruit. This chewy, full-bodied, heady Shiraz possesses plenty of glycerin and texture. Already drinking well, it is a wine to drink during its first 5-7 years of life. WS 86 (12/2005): Broad and ripe, with dried cherry and prune notes shaded with licorice and peppery spice flavors, lingering if a bit hot. Drink now through 2010. 256 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KurtzFamily.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Kyeema.aspWS 96 (7/2016): Elegant and graceful, this opens to supple lemon and tangerine flavors, accented by spice, cedar, mineral and white floral touches. Everything is precise and supple, with a juicy touch on the epic finish. Drink now through 2026. 600 cases imported. WA 93+ (3/2016): The 2013 Chardonnay Art Series is very ripe and rich, with a tropical nose of ginger, brioche and honeyed peach. The medium-bodied palate reveals a pleasant oiliness, which is in synch with the spicy richness. The finish has great length and freshness supporting the many layers.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LeeuwinEstate.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LengsCooter.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DeLisio.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DeLisio.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DeLisio.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Majella.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Majella.aspWA 93 (8/2003): The exciting, saturated inky purple-colored 2002 Shiraz reveals a gorgeous perfume of blackberry liqueur, white flowers, vanilla, and a hint of figs. Opulent, voluptuous, and sexy, it is both flamboyant and immensely satisfying. This big, silky, flesh bomb should drink well for 3-4 years. For the price, it offers unbelievable value. WS 90 (9/2004): Ripe, dense and juicy; a real mouthful of dark berry, cherry, dusky spice and sweet oak flavors, mingling harmoniously on the lively finish. Best from 2005 through 2010. 15,300 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MarquisPhilips.aspWA 93 (10/2004): The 2003 Shiraz 9 is a flamboyant, opaque purple-colored, full-bodied effort revealing notes of espresso roast, chocolate, smoked meats, and toasty American oak. Fleshy, full-throttle, pure, and intensely concentrated, it is a classic South Australian Shiraz to enjoy during its first 7-8 years of life.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MarquisPhilips.aspWA 93 (10/2002): The opaque purple-colored 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon S2 (100% Cabernet) was barrel-fermented in 100% new oak and aged in a combination of French and American barrels. It exhibits a spicy perfume of vanilla, black currants, sweet cherries, licorice, and cedar. Dense, opulent, expansive, and full-bodied, it is surprisingly fresh and well-delineated. I re-tasted this wine after it had been opened for 24 hours and double decanted, and it revealed sweeter tannin as well as greater fruit intensity, an attribute that should serve these wines well in their aging process. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2017.WS 90 (5/2003): Ripe, round and generous with its raspberry and cherry flavors, shaded with all kinds of floral, peppery grace notes, wrapped in a layer of creamy oak, all of it echoing impressively on the well-formed finish. Best after 2004. 3,280 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MarquisPhilips.aspWA 94-97 (8/2003): A profound offering, the 2002 Shiraz 11th Hour (it will be bottled in several months) represents great value for what it offers. This spectacularly concentrated, inky/purple-colored 2002 will take tasters to the Elysian fields of Shiraz. Aromas of acacia flowers, blackberries, blueberries, cassis, and exotic Asian spices are accompanied by a ripe, full-bodied, gorgeously textured, terrifically endowed Shiraz with no hard edges. It will drink well for 10-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MassenaWinery.aspWA 94-97 (8/2003): A profound offering, the 2002 Shiraz 11th Hour (it will be bottled in several months) represents great value for what it offers. This spectacularly concentrated, inky/purple-colored 2002 will take tasters to the Elysian fields of Shiraz. Aromas of acacia flowers, blackberries, blueberries, cassis, and exotic Asian spices are accompanied by a ripe, full-bodied, gorgeously textured, terrifically endowed Shiraz with no hard edges. It will drink well for 10-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MassenaWinery.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Maxwell.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Maxwell.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Maxwell.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/StMichaels.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Mitolo.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Mitolo.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Mitolo.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MountLangiGhiran.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MountLangiGhiran.aspWA 94 (4/1999): The opaque purple-colored 1997 Eclipse (900 cases of a 65% Grenache, 35% Shiraz blend, from 35-60-year old vines) somehow manages to hide its 16.3% alcohol. The wine offers up cherry/blackberry liqueur-like aromas and flavors, an unctuous texture, and despite its ripeness, size, and richness, does not taste like a heavyweight, late-harvest, pruny wine. It seems to me that vineyards in this viticultural area (Langhorn Creek) can achieve an extraordinarily high degree of alcohol without the pruny flavors often associated with less alcoholic wines. This unfiltered beauty is extremely intense, yet should evolve into a civilized, spectacular Shiraz/Grenache blend that will age well for 10-15+ years.VM 92 (8/1999): Saturated ruby. Black raspberry, game, eucalyptus and a note of red berry liqueur. Thick, sweet and highly concentrated, with sound supporting acidity keeping the flavors fresh. Really fills the mouth with dense, superripe fruit. Very long, palate-staining finish; the ripe tannins coat the entire palate. This is a big boy, but I would never have guessed the alcohol was 16+%.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/NoonWinery.aspWA 98 (4/1999): The 1997 Shiraz Reserve comes close to resembling a dry vintage port. One of the most concentrated wines I have ever tasted (reminiscent of the Clarendon Hills Astralis), yields were not low at 3.5 tons per acre, but the 35-year old vine age and sur-maturite of this wine have resulted in something special. It boasts an opaque black/purple color, followed by a sumptuous nose of licorice, Asian spices, tar, and concentrated blackberry fruit. Thick in the mouth, with remarkably full body and surprising balance, the alcohol (15.8%), tannin, and acidity are lost in the cascades of fruit. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025.VM 89+ (8/1999): Saturated ruby-purple. High-toned blackberry, shoe polish, licorice and mint aromas are distinctly port-like but fresh. Extremely concentrated and powerfully extracted; the intense blackberry and mint flavors are focused, superripe and very persistent. As impressive as this is, I got a strong impression of overly macerated skins. Perhaps not as well balanced for aging as the above two bottles despite its freakish concentration.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/NoonWinery.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/NoonWinery.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/NoonWinery.aspWA 95 (2/2000): A fine effort, the saturated black/purple/blue-colored 1998 Shiraz offers sensational aromas of blueberries, blackberries, and cassis, a huge, super-concentrated palate, fabulous purity, sweet tannin, and well-integrated acidity. It will improve after another 2-3 years of cellaring. It should age well for two decades.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/OliversTarangaVineyards.aspWA 95 (2/2000): A fine effort, the saturated black/purple/blue-colored 1998 Shiraz offers sensational aromas of blueberries, blackberries, and cassis, a huge, super-concentrated palate, fabulous purity, sweet tannin, and well-integrated acidity. It will improve after another 2-3 years of cellaring. It should age well for two decades.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/OliversTarangaVineyards.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/OliversTarangaVineyards.aspWA 95-97 (2/2000): Readers should keep an eye out for the 1998 Terra Rossa First Growth after its release later this year. Its dense purple color is followed by extraordinarily sweet fruit, intense glycerin, and a full-bodied, concentrated mouth-feel. The purity, high extract, and uncanny symmetry is breathtaking. Perhaps the finest Terra Rossa First Growth yet produced, it should drink well for two decades or more.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Parker.aspWS 94 (10/1997): Ripe, smoky and spicy, this is a wine of extraordinary subtlety and complexity, powerful without showing too much muscle. It layers its anise, black cherry and blackberry flavors to keep them zingy through the finish. Shows a lot of depth and surprising restraint. Best from 2002 through 2005. 2,049 cases imported. WA 92 (2/2002): This is a very aromatic Grange that seems to be the product of a vintage where the wines are showing extremely well young. It is dense purple, with a sweet blackberry/cherry nose and some subtle cedar and licorice in the background, unctuously textured, thick, full, without as many nuances of some of the greatest vintages of Grange, but very concentrated and dense. Anticipated maturity: now-2017.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Penfolds.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Penfolds.aspWA 95-97 (4/2003): The 2002 Shiraz Footprint has more of everything in addition to surprising structure, massive fruit concentration, and remarkable natural acidity. Aged in French oak (80% new), it may be the finest offering I have ever tasted from Penny’s Hill. A wine of enormous richness, this inky/blue/purple-colored Shiraz offers up aromas of ink, graphite, blackberry liqueur, blueberries, and white flowers. Dense and full-bodied, with great purity as well as length, it will provide immense pleasure during its first 15 years of life.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PennysHill.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Piombo.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PossumsVineyard.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PossumsVineyard.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RWines.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RWines.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RedEdge.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MrRiggs.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MrRiggs.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChrisRingland.aspWA 96 (10/2005): A fabulous offering is the 2002 Shiraz Black Guts. Made from 36-year-old vines cropped at 1-2 tons of fruit per acre, it boasts an inky/purple color followed by a sumptuous nose of blueberries, blackberries, cold steel, acacia flowers, and subtle new oak. Layers of fruit and purity cascade over the palate of this long, rich, full-bodied, voluptuously textured, impeccably balanced Shiraz. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2020+.WS 86 (12/2005): Herb and green olive aromas and flavors are more prominent than the modest cherry and plum flavors in this firm, impressively long Shiraz. Might just need time to settle in and the fruit to emerge. Best after 2008. 168 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Rusden.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Rusden.aspWA 97 (10/2007): Rusden’s flagship is the 2004 Shiraz “Black Guts,” sourced from a vineyard planted in 1959. It was aged for 30 months in barrel, 10% new American, 25% new French, with the balance used French. Purple-colored (but not as saturated as many of its Barossa peers), it delivers a stunning perfume of mineral, gunpowder, roasted meat, blueberry, and chocolate. This is followed by a full-bodied, velvety-textured Shiraz with gobs of layered fruit, terrific intensity and balance, and a very long finish. It will develop for 6-8 years and drink well through 2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Rusden.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Rusden.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Rusden.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Stonegate.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Summerfield.aspWA 91-93 (10/2004): A barrel sample of the 2003 Shiraz Cambrian reveals marvelous raw materials, combining both power and elegance. It should evolve into a multidimensional wine.VM 90 (8/2005): Dark ruby. Flamboyant aromas of sweet blackberry, cassis, dark raspberry and candied licorice, with notes of violet, mocha and sexy oak spice. Very syrah in the mouth, with flavors of creme de mure, black olive, roasted coffee, sweet pepper and light camphor. Supple and round on the finish, with fully buffered, sweet tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Tatiarra.aspWA 91-93 (10/2004): A barrel sample of the 2003 Shiraz Cambrian reveals marvelous raw materials, combining both power and elegance. It should evolve into a multidimensional wine.VM 90 (8/2005): Dark ruby. Flamboyant aromas of sweet blackberry, cassis, dark raspberry and candied licorice, with notes of violet, mocha and sexy oak spice. Very syrah in the mouth, with flavors of creme de mure, black olive, roasted coffee, sweet pepper and light camphor. Supple and round on the finish, with fully buffered, sweet tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Tatiarra.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Tatiarra.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Tatiarra.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Teusner.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Teusner.aspWA 94 (6/2003): The Shotfire Ridge cuvee is awesome. For readers who want something big, there are 6,000 cases of the lavish 2002 Shiraz Shotfire Ridge. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as a big, sweet, smoky, peppery, blackberry liqueur-scented nose followed by bold flavors of roasted meats, dried herbs, scorched earth, and spice. An incredible value, with huge body and massive fruit as well as glycerin, it is almost too good to be true. But it is! Drink it over the next decade.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Thorn-Clarke.aspWA 94 (6/2009): The 1998 The Descendant Shiraz, which is aged in used rather than new French oak, has a slightly higher percentage of Viognier co-fermented in it. It displays exotic lychee, peach, and honeysuckle characteristics along with plenty of blackberry and black cherry fruit, and glycerin. Well-made, exuberant, and fresh, this fully mature 1998 should drink well for another 3-4 years. VM 93 (8/2000): Medium ruby. Jammy dark berries, toasty oak and a hint of grapefruit on the nose; ripe-verging-on-raisiny. Superripe and superconcentrated, with almost painful intensity of flavor and great liqueur-like sweetness. Very thick but not over the top. Finishes very long and youthful, with lush tannins and palate-staining fruit.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Torbreck.aspWA 94 (10/2002): The 2000 Descendant is a single-vineyard Shiraz that includes 8% Viognier. There are 560 cases of the 2000, a magnificent example aged completely in used French oak for 18 months prior to being bottled with no fining or filtration. This exotic offering boasts an inky purple color along with a gorgeously sweet nose of blackberry liqueur intermixed with licorice and Viognier's honeysuckle character. It has great texture, fabulous length (the finish lasts for 50 seconds), and incredible fruit purity. I would not be surprised to see it firm up in the bottle. This pedal-to-the-metal, full-throttle Shiraz is a singular expression of Barossa Valley fruit. Anticipated maturity: now-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Torbreck.aspWA 94 (10/2002): The 2000 Descendant is a single-vineyard Shiraz that includes 8% Viognier. There are 560 cases of the 2000, a magnificent example aged completely in used French oak for 18 months prior to being bottled with no fining or filtration. This exotic offering boasts an inky purple color along with a gorgeously sweet nose of blackberry liqueur intermixed with licorice and Viognier's honeysuckle character. It has great texture, fabulous length (the finish lasts for 50 seconds), and incredible fruit purity. I would not be surprised to see it firm up in the bottle. This pedal-to-the-metal, full-throttle Shiraz is a singular expression of Barossa Valley fruit. Anticipated maturity: now-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Torbreck.aspWA 94 (2/2000): The 1999 Juveniles (60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and 20% Shiraz), from tiny yields of 1-2 tons of fruit per acre, is an explosive fruit bomb. It almost has a "nouveau" character, but there are such levels of concentration, body, glycerin, and extract that it transcends that category into something unlike anything tasted previously. Opaque purple-colored, with a celestial perfume of jammy black fruit and floral scents, this dense, monsterous, velvety-textured wine is a total hedonistic turn-on. It is impossible to resist, and should continue to drink well for 7-8 years. JR 17.5/20 (10/2005): This unwooded blend, created in 1999 for the Paris wine bar Juveniles, is about 60 per cent Grenache plus Shiraz and Mourvedre. The vines responsible are 48 to 153 years old, apparently, and “it needs a tiny bit of maintenance to keep it fresh". Full, dense and spicy. Rich, sweet and so gamey that, on the palate, it almost seems dominated by the Mourvedre. Drink 2005 to 2007. VM 87 (8/2000): Ruby-blue color. Black plum, violet, licorice and a slightly rubbery suggestion of tank. Brisk and concentrated but supple, with good texture and length. Slightly drying tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Torbreck.aspIWC 93+ (10/2009): (100% mataro) Glass-staining ruby. Powerful scents of blackcurrant, dark cherry, olive tapenade and incense, with a musky herbal undertone. Broad, palate-staining dark berry compote flavors are framed by velvety tannins and pick up notes of licorice and bitter chocolate with air. Pretty wild stuff, boasting excellent concentration and finishing sweetness. There are plenty of tannins here but the fruit seems to suck them up. Give this another four or five years in the cellar. WA 92 (2/2009): The 2006 The Pict is 100% Mataro (Mourvedre) aged in 100% new French oak for 24 months. The fruit was sourced from one section of a vineyard planted in 1927. Purple-colored, it offers up an aromatic array of smoky oak, forest floor, black truffle, blueberry, and blackberry jam. On the palate it reveals a brawny, masculine personality with some austerity that should round out with a few years of additional bottle age. It should offer prime drinking from 2013 to 2026. WS 88 (7/2010): Soft and velvety, with a meaty note prominent among the berry and plum flavors, lingering gently. Mataro (Mourvèdre). Drink now through 2013. 250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Torbreck.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TrollCreek.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TrollCreek.aspVM 94 (7/2007): Medium red. An exotic bouquet includes raspberry, candied cherry, sandalwood, vanilla and pungent herbs. Lush, creamy and sweet, with deeply concentrated red fruit and smoky herb flavors and deftly knit, silky tannins. Finishes on notes of pure red berries and red licorice, with outstanding persistence. Twelftree says that this wine represents his eight best barrels of grenache, from vines ranging from 50 to 80 years of age, and is their stab at "a luxury Chateauneuf."WA 92 (10/2007): The 2005 Grenache “Aerope” was aged in 4- to 5-year-old American oak. It offers aromas of garrigue, sage, cassis, and cherry jam. Thick and rich, it is velvety on the palate with intense, pure flavors and a long, fruit-filled finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TwoHands.aspWA 94 (10/2004): This big, boisterous, exuberant 2002 is a classic Barossa Valley Shiraz. An inky/ruby/purple color is followed by a knock-out nose of smoke, earth, blackberries, and vanilla. Produced from low yields of 1.5 tons of fruit per acre, and aged in both new and old French hogsheads, it is no shy wine at 15.5% alcohol. It will drink well for 7-10 years. The name, Two Way Range, comes from two guys who fought on behalf of Australia with the United States in Vietnam, and referred to their service in that country as a firing range that fired from both sides.WS 93 (9/2004): Polished, ripe and beautifully structured to let its plum, blackberry and peppermint flavors sail onto a long, fine-grained finish. Not an overwhelming wine, despite the 15.6 percent alcohol, but it has great stature. Best from 2006 through 2015. 250 cases made. VM 88 (8/2004): Bright ruby. Slightly tired aroma of nut skin, with a suggestion of dried fruits. Then sweet, fat and concentrated, with surprisingly succulent currant and smoke flavors for a wine so thick. Finishes with sweet tannins and lingering currant flavor. Still, I'd like to have seen a bit more structure and grip.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TwoWayRange.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TwoWayRange.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeritasWinery.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeritasWinery.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VeritasWinery.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WhistlingEagle.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WildDuckCreek.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WildDuckCreek.aspIWC 91 (8/1999): Bright, saturated ruby. Sauvage aromas of cassis, black raspberry, roasted meat, minerals, lead pencil and smoke. Big, sweet and very concentrated; has the structure to age but already offers significant appeal. The ripe tannins are thoroughly covered by berry fruit. WS 89 (6/2000): A picture of elegance. From the fresh and pure violet, raspberry and dark chocolate aromas and flavors and lithe framework to the lingering finish, this Shiraz shows a restrained style for Australia. Drink now through 2003. 450 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WildDuckCreek.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WildDuckCreek.aspWA 93 (4/1999): The spectacular, opaque purple-colored 1997 Springflat Shiraz is unevolved, but possesses great intensity and promise. Tasting akin to a barrel sample with its flashy display of youthful cassis and blackberry fruit, this thick, rich offering possesses definition that is rare in a wine of such size and extract. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2018. VM 91 (8/1999): Bright, saturated ruby. Sauvage aromas of cassis, black raspberry, roasted meat, minerals, lead pencil and smoke. Big, sweet and very concentrated; has the structure to age but already offers significant appeal. The ripe tannins are thoroughly covered by berry fruit. WS 89 (6/2000): A picture of elegance. From the fresh and pure violet, raspberry and dark chocolate aromas and flavors and lithe framework to the lingering finish, this Shiraz shows a restrained style for Australia. Drink now through 2003. 450 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WildDuckCreek.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TheWillows.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Yalumba.asp