James Halliday
"94 pts ... Excellent retention of red-purple hue; the spicy, savoury bouquet is no guide to the sweet, supple black cherry and blackberry fruit which flows through to a long, slippery finish. Drink through 2022." -- 03/07

Winemaker's Notes
"Our Reserve Shiraz is the product of a particularly good growing season in the Barossa and a barrel selection of the best wine 2002 has to offer. The grapes were grown on our Rowland Flat Vineyard which adjoins the North Para River in the Barossa Valley. The wine completed fermentation in new and two year old seasoned American oak. It has all of the spice and concentration of a true Barossa Shiraz. The nose is flashy, with hints of tobacco and pepper. The palate is lush with flavors of dark cherry and black plums leading to a complex, lingering finish. "

Technical Notes
"The grapes were harvested at optimum ripeness (14be) and crushed into an open top ferment tank. The wine was fermented on skins for 10 days. This wine completed its fermentation in American oak barrels. The wine was racked and transferred back to oak for an additional 15 months maturation.We have bottled this wine without filtration or fining. This wine will benefit from cellaring beyond 2012. The wine was bottled in May 2004. 14% alc."

James Halliday
"90 pts ... Nicely balanced and composed; perhaps the warmth of the Barossa Valley gets rid of the green/tobacco notes of cabernet franc as grown in the Loire Valley; more sweet and spicy than savoury, with good length. Drink through 2014." -- 03/07

Winemaker's Notes
"The grapes were grown on our Golf Links Vineyard in the Barossa Valley. This is our twelfth release of a Cabernet Franc varietal. Over the years we have produced some wonderfully balanced Cab Franc varietal wines. We believe this wine to be the best we have produced thus far. The wine is a medium bodied style highlighting the characteristics of Cabernet Franc. There is the aroma of green bell pepper on the nose, with hints of cherry and beautiful oak integration. The palate shows some powerful cabernet fruit, cherries and plums, balanced with smoke and hints of tobacco from the oak. It’s a richly textured wine with supple tannins that contribute to its tremendous balance and structure, and give way to a flavorful, lingering finish."

Technical Notes
"The grapes were harvested at optimum ripeness (14.5be) and crushed into an open top ferment tank. The juice was fermented on skins for 10 days. This wine completed its fermentation in French oak barrels where it remained for 12 months. We have bottled this wine without filtration or fining. This wine is drinking wonderfully now, but has the potential to live off of its fresh fruit and lovely soft tannins for many years. We recommend 3-5 years for optimal drinking. 14% alc."