The 2004 Shiraz Reserve was sourced from 40- and 100-year-old vines yielding a meager 0.5 tons per acre. It was aged 30 months in 600-litre demi-muids. Purple/black in color, it exhibits a splendid, brooding perfume of cedar, scorched earth, licorice, blueberry compote, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a thick, rich, voluptuous Shiraz with all components totally integrated and harmonious. The finish is exceptionally long and pure. It will evolve for a decade and drink well through 2030. R Wines is a new company founded by importer and marketing genius, Dan Philips, along with co-owner, renowned winemaker, Chris Ringland. Winemakers for R Wines are Chris Ringland, Lisa Wetherell, Andrew Hercock, and John Hughes. It encompasses four familiar labels, Marquis Philips, 3 Rings, Roogle, and Bitch, along with 13 others created especially for R Wines. Needless to say, the packaging of these wines is amazingly creative but, more importantly, what is in the bottle consistently over-delivers from low-end to high-end.Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; (805) 278-9095