Blue Pyrenees Reserve Shiraz 2009 (Pyrenees, Vic)
14%, Screwcap, $35
Source: Samplewww.bluepyrenees.com.au
Always a rich and chunky wine this. More Grampians ‘plum juice’ rich than Pyrenees ‘mint-choc’ rich methinks, which probably isn’t all that surprising when you’re thinking geographically, but something of a distinction. Vintage-wise 2009 was the tail end of ‘the drought years’, a period in which I think the region really struggled to produce really vital wines – as evidenced here.

As expected there is loads of Inky sweet plum fruit. Plenty. Concentrated it is too, as befitting a reserve wine. Polished, concentrated purple fruit that is quite sweet and full if just a little figgy and roasted at the edges. Juicy mid palate punch, dried fruit edges, a shorter finish than expected – it’s like 3/4 of a good wine that fails to completely come together.

Close/no cigar.

Score: 16.8/20, 89/100
Would I buy it? No.