To celebrate Australia Day i think that the most pertinent thing to drink would be something notably Aussie in style – so I went for a Barossan Shiraz.

The Teusner Lost Barrels Gomersal Shiraz 2005 was originally intended to go into the noted Teusner Albert Shiraz, but forgotten about in the process of moving sheds. (how Aussie is that) It is available only via the cellar door or the Teusner website.

A mid red colour, the nose is initially dominated by oak – coconut, sawdust & cedary oak, with the fruit just poking through with some rhubarb & beetroot. The savoury palate is long, dry and totally dominated by the oak. Back in the decanter it went.

6 hours later and the nose shows more Gomersal fruit with redcurrant and cherry liqueur appearing on the nose along with some black licorice and rhubarb. The palate has taken on more richness & immediacy with strawberry & cherry liqueur fruit, before the dusty, almost resinous oak takes hold. Its still not particularly appealing and oak dominates.

By day 2 its not showing much to get excited about, the fruit on the nose has oxidised slightly and the palate is richer, fatter, but still dominated by grainy, intrusive oak.

So sadly this is my first Teusner disappointment. Far too much oak for my liking, though time may well help integrate it back in. 15