The 2007 Pillar Box Red, a blend of 65% Shiraz, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot. Purple-colored, it exhibits an expressive nose of spice box, earth notes, blueberry, and black currant. Ripe, sweet, and layered, this nicely rendered red has exceptional balance and length for its humble price. James Halliday says of Padthaway, “?It is on the way to nowhere. If you can pass through Coonawarra without noticing very much, you can pass through Padthaway without noticing anything at all.” Be that as it may, this is where the Longbottoms added grape growing to their other farming interests and began Henry’s Drive Vignerons. It quickly became clear that high quality grapes could be grown in Padthaway (they became the foundation of the Marquis-Philips line) and, subsequently, The Henry’s Drive, Parson’s Flat, and Pillar Box labels have gained significant traction in the USA market over the last ten years thanks to their superb price to quality ratio.Importer: Quintessential Wines, Napa, CA; www.quintessentialwines.com

Production of this wine has climbed above 100,000 cases, which makes its quality all the more remarkable. Dark chocolate and blueberry aromas lead into flavors that stay in that same vein: chocolate, coffee, tinges of black olive. It's full-bodied and rather dense on the palate, finishing with hints of espresso. Drink now.——J.C.(11/1/2009)—— 88