St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 1998 (Barossa, SA) .
Cork, $25 on release

I swear this wine is released much earlier these days, as this would have been current vintage no more than 6 yrs ago (and the 06 is current release). The Blackwell is a satisfyingly consistent wine, in a luxuriously plush, classic Barossa, rich fruit and oak style.

Showing some mushroomy development on the nose, there is no mistaking the sweet, choc cherry like aromatics of Barossa fruit. Its dark chocolate Cherry Ripe and it is quite distinctive and delicious, with the bottle age injecting some meatiness. The medium to full bodied palate shows more of this mushroomy sweet fruit, mixed with coconut oak and finishing with some alcoholic warmth – its drying out a little on the palate without the immediate attraction of the nose, but its still quite tasty in its mould.

A nicely mature Barossa Shiraz. 17.5