Matured for 18 months in old French barriques, the 2010 Christine’s Vineyard Grenache is a pale to medium garnet with forward aromas of warm raspberries, cranberries and rhubarb and underlying hints of spice cake, dried herbs and underbrush. Medium to full bodied with just enough warm red berry flavor concentration, it offers a low to medium level of silky tannins, lively acid and a long berry-laced finish. Drink it now through 2017. Importer: CLD Imports, Barrington, IL; tel. (847) 898-9500

The 2007 Christine’s Vineyard Grenache spent 18 months in old French oak. It is medium ruby-colored with a nearly ethereal perfume of cinnamon, rose petal, incense, and cherry. Silky on the palate, it has remarkable concentration, great depth, and a long, pristine finish. Drink this pleasure-bent effort over the next 6 years. Christian Canute’s signature style of winemaking usually pays off with distinctive wines unlike anything else coming out of Barossa Valley.Importer: CLD Imports; Barrington, IL; tel. (847) 898-9500

The 2006 Christine’s Grenache received the same elevage as the Driftsand. Medium ruby-colored, it reveals an ethereal nose of rose petal, cranberry, cassis, and black cherry. Elegant and seamless on the palate, this pure, pleasure-driven Grenache can be enjoyed over the next 6-8 years. Rusden is where the gifted Christian Canute makes wine on the family property in Barossa. He has a unique ability to produce wines of great finesse combined with the intensity and power obtained from the best Barossa Valley fruit.Importer: CLD Imports, Barrington, IL; tel. (847) 898-9500

The 2005 Grenache “Christine’s Vineyard” was aged for 18 months in neutral French oak. Medium ruby-colored, it offers aromas of earth, saddle leather, black raspberry, and kirsch. Medium to full-bodied, it displays a velvety texture, succulent, candied red fruit flavors, and a silky finish. Drink it 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)