The 2005 Grenache (60%) – Shiraz (40%) “Driftsand” was aged for 18 months in neutral French oak. Medium ruby-colored, it delivers a fragrant perfume of lavender, sage, strawberry, and rhubarb. Supple and sweet, with no hard edges, this easy-going blend, lacking only complexity, can be savored over the next 6-8 years. Rusden is owned by Dennis and Christian Canute with the talented Christian serving as winemaker. The vines were planted in the early 1970s in the tenderloin of the Barossa. Christian Canute has a unique ability to produce wines of great finesse combined with the intensity and power obtained from Barossa Valley fruit.Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; www.rusdenwines.com.au; Also tasted: 2006 Chenin Blanc “Christian” (83)