Sleek, with earth and fresh herb overtones to the cherry and cranberry flavors, and a crisp edge. Lovely spice and tea notes on the finish. Drink now through 2026. 412 cases made.??–MW??Region: Australia / Barossa / Barossa Valley Select to Add

Shows density and depth, with welcoming flavors of ripe blackberry, dark plum and spice that linger on the open-textured finish. Drink now through 2020. 600 cases made. –HS

Schwarz Wine Company’s 2008 Nitschke Block Shiraz comes from a single vineyard planted in 1969. Deep garn-purple colored, it has pure and intense aromas of warm blackberries and black cherries with some underlying notes of eucalypt, licorice, cinnamon and mace. Very full and densely packed with berry and spice flavors on the palate, it is well structured with crisp acid, a medium to firm level of grainy tannins and a long, well balanced finish. Approachable now, it should develop nicely over the next 5-7 years and drink to 2020+. Importer: Kysela Pere et Fils, Winchester, VA; tel: (540) 722-9258