The 2005 Creek Block Shiraz was sourced from a 67-year-old estate vineyard and received the same barrel regimen as its colleagues. An exceptional nose of smoked meat, bacon, tar, violets, truffle, and blueberry muffin gives way to a full-bodied, voluptuous, Shiraz with layers of blue and black fruit flavors, spice box, and milk chocolate. Although it can be enjoyed now, it promises to evolve for 8-10 years and provide prime drinking through 2035. Greenock Creek Vineyard & Cellars, owned by Michael and Annabelle Waugh, remains one of South Australia’s iconic wineries. Start with a great terroir, add in old vine material and meticulous winemaking, and end with extraordinary results.Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (805) 278-9095

The 2004 Shiraz “Creek Block” is near otherworldly. It was sourced from a 66-year-old vineyard with yields of 1.0 tons per acre and aged for 28 months in used American oak. It delivers a super-fragrant nose of smoked meat, bacon, violets, an earthy/truffle element, blackberry, and blueberry muffin. This leads to a full-bodied, voluptuous wine with gobs of spicy, complex blue and black fruit flavors, great balance, and a finish that just won’t quit. This loaded wine can be enjoyed now but will drink well for another 15-20 years. Greenock Creek Vineyard and Cellars, owned by Michael and Annabelle Waugh, is one of the Barossa’s benchmark wineries. Start with a great terroir, add in old vine material, and meticulous winemaking and the results are usually extraordinary.Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (805) 278-9095

Pure perfection, the 2003 Shiraz Creek Block was fashioned from a 65-year-old vineyard that yielded one ton of fruit per acre. This full-bodied, multifaceted effort reveals tremendous notes of bacon fat interwoven with black raspberries, blackberries, cassis, pen ink, graphite, incense, and acacia flowers. The finish lasts well past a minute. Although not the most powerful Shiraz (15.5% alcohol), to my mind it is the best of this portfolio, and is superior to the limited production, super-duper expensive Roennfeldt cuvees. Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (888) 472-5283

The nearly perfect 2002 Shiraz Creek Block (from 54-year-old vines) possesses an inky/purple hue as well as a spectacularly intense bouquet of creme de cassis, blackberries, blueberries, charcoal, crushed rocks, and acacia flowers. Enormously endowed, concentrated, rich, pure, and layered, it is about as prodigious as South Australian Shiraz can be. The cool 2002 vintage has provided good delineation, crisp acidity, and sweet tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025+. If I had to select the number one Australian winery, it would be hard not to choose the Greenock Creek Winery, run by the humble, shy Michael and Annabelle Waugh. The quality that emerges from this estate is extraordinary. In short, these are thrilling, world-class wines that are about as compelling as wine can be.Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (888) 472-5283