Taltarni Estate Shiraz 2005 (Pyrenees, Vic)
14.5%, Cork, $35
Source: Sample
http://www.taltarni.com.au/

Long bottle, long cork and very regal looking label. All adds up to what looks like a good package, though it’s not strictly my sort of wine (a bit charry and heavy for me).

A deep, rich red colour with light edges, this looks dark, Pyrenees dark. Nose is all Darryl Lea licorice aromatics, with a fair dose of chocolate oak. Attractive stuff. Rich, but not obviously sweet, with black-meets-red-fruits and charry, solIdly integrated oak. Thick, tarry black fruit and malted oak palate, with spicy fruit just touching into overripeness, but saved by a fresh, grainy, tannic finish.

It’s a big mouthful of Pyrenees red, with the 4% Viognier very carefully integrated and no shortage of tannins. Has a real depth of black old vine fruit richness that marks it as a wine of quality. I’d like to see this a fraction lighter, but it will definitely make plenty of people happy. 17.3/91