The purple-colored 2006 Underhill Shiraz is unlike anything out of Barossa and McLaren Vale. It reveals a complex aromatic array of cedar, violets, earth notes, black cherry, and black raspberry. Sweet and silky on the palate, it comes off as a Shiraz in Pinot Noir clothing; that is the type of finesse that this wine possesses. This unique effort should evolve for several years and offer prime drinking from 2011 through 2020. Ancient by Australian standards, this artisanal winery was started in 1969 by Dr. Bailey Carrodus. It now encompasses 78 dry-farmed acres with all of the wines produced from estate-grown fruit. I visited the winery in September 2008, just a few days after Dr. Carrodus died after a long illness. It appears that he planned for the transition which should hopefully be seamless because this is a gem of a winery. I tasted a number of small projects which are not exported but are fascinating wines and will report on them on my blog space on www.erobertparker.com.Importer: Gavin Speight, Old Bridge Cellars, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 258-9552