Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2009 Moonambel Shiraz offers intense aromas of warm blackberries, black cherry preserves and blueberries over baking spices, aniseed and a whiff of red roses. Medium bodied with a tight-knit structure of firm, fine-grained tannins and high acid, it offers a generous amount of spicy dark berry fruit in the mouth with a long finish. Approachable now, it should open considerably with another 2-3 years in bottle and drink best from 2014 to 2020+. Dalwhinnie does not have a USA importer but exports to Canada, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.

The recent vintages of Shirazes coming off this estate are seriously worth finding. Beginning with the very deep garnet-purple colored 2008 Moonambel Shiraz, there’s a moderate, muted intensity of ripe blackberry and blueberry aromas with a dash of anise and black pepper leading into savory game, marmite and toasted nut notes. The medium to full-bodied palate has crisp acid and a medium-high level of very fine tannins. This wine is tightly knit with that elusive combination of concentration and elegance, finishing long. Delicious now, give this wine another year or so to really open, and drink to 2020. Dalwhinnie does not have a US importer but exports to Canada, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.