designation: Block 3

description: This is showing some lovely complexity on the nose, with hints of spice, maple syrup and hickory smoke all showing through the weighty plum and chocolate fruit. It's lush and soft on the palate, just firming up a bit on the finish, where it picks up elegant oak-spice notes.

designation:

description: This is like a scaled-down version of the Kupe bottling or is that one a scaled-up version of this wine? Smoky and peppery notes mark the nose, framing black cherry and plum flavors in a wire cage of cured meats, yet the texture is supple and silky. Drink now-2012.

designation: Cedar Lane Vineyard

description: As ripe as the fruit is, and it's very ripe, with showy blackberry, cassis, plum and mocha flavors, this Syrah is dry and balanced, with the acidity and tannic structure that comes from the terroir of this cool Monterey appellation. It's a very interesting wine, with real class and style.

designation:

description: This is not an ageable Cab, but it is balanced and complex, and has more than $20 worth of elegance. Dry and softly tannic, the Proven?al herb, black cherry and oak flavors make you reach for a second glass.

designation: The Beast

description: The Beast seems to be in a bit of an awkward stage right now, showing a touch of alcohol atop its cedar, blackberries, vanilla and chocolate. It's full-bodied, firmly structured by dusty tannins, and shows good drive and freshness, although there's a slightly raisiny edge to the finish. Give it another few years to pull itself together. Drink 2010C2020.

designation: Stonewell

description: More lifted and aromatic than some other vintages of the Stonewell Shiraz, the 2002 features red fruit flavors and a slightly herbal tinge. Tannins are creamy-smooth, yet the acids are a bit hard-edged at this stage. Give it another few years to round into form; drink from 2010C2015.

designation: Late Bottled Vintage

description: Initially dry, with dense and dark tannins, this opens in the mouth to give a richly concentrated array of ripe fruits and sweetness. It is likely that this could age.

designation: Vintage

description: Portal's 2004 vintage is a powerful effort from an average year. The dark structures are all here: the rich, sweet fruit is dense and concentrated, flavored with currants and black figs. This should age well, with its present dominant dry structure.

designation:

description: Now this is Albari?o! The nose sings a pretty tune, backed by aromas of white fruits, candle wax and flower blossoms. The mouth is perfectly racy but balanced, with forward apple, mineral and honeyed flavors. Get at this as soon as possible to enjoy Albari?o's classic crisp, oceanic qualities. You won't be disappointed.

designation: Reserve

description: This small-production reserve Cab from one of Sonoma's premier wineries is notable for its power. The tannins are quite firm, giving an astringent bite, while the fruity-oaky flavors are massive. Cherries, blackberries, raspberries, spicy plums, vanilla, cocoa and char just explode, yet the wine maintains balance. Good as it is, it's a young wine that will benefit from several years in the bottle.

designation:

description: This is not a blow-you-away RDD, but it is a smooth, well-composed red wine with clean, alluring aromas and ripe-styled fruit flavors that touch on raisin but then pull back to black cherry and dark plum. With its integrated tannins and mild finish, this is ready to go now and should hold form for about five years, maybe eight.

designation: Fire Station

description: A step up in seriousness from Craneford's easy-drinking regular Shiraz, the Fire Station bottling is sourced from 80-year-old vines from the northern Barossa. Cola, spice and meat notes mark the aromas, while the blackberry fruit on the palate is very juicy and fresh. A touch of cedar on the finish brings the fruit back into focus. Drink nowC2015.

designation: Colheita

description: Although with its vintage date, this is only 10 years' old, don't think of this as another 10-year-old aged tawny. Like most colheitas, aged in wood and not topped up with new wine as are aged tawnies, this is much more concentrated, like syrup. It has some sweetness, but the dominant character is dark Belgian chocolate. Very dense, with a very dry aftertaste.

designation: Late Bottled Vintage

description: This is a mature, deliciously perfumed and structured wine. There is a great milk chocolate flavor that balances the flavors of candied fruits.

designation:

description: Believe it or not, these are 30-year-old vines, from the Smith-Cerne vineyard, a real rarity here in the Pacific Northwest. The quality shines through; winemaker Peter Rosback has taken this fruit and shaken out every nuance and subtlety it possesses. It has the elegance, texture and complexity of Sancerre, with less of the rock. The herbaceous notes are restrained and the fruit is immaculate, but what is really impressive is the length of this wine, which seems as if it could age for a decade or more.

designation: Single Wire

description: Almost Rh?ne-ish in its spicy, savory notes and sour plum flavors. It's meaty and peppery, with sausage-like notes. Only medium-bodied, this is not a typical Barossa heavyweight, but a wine that relies on aromatics and complexity for its charm. Drink nowC2012.

designation:

description: A wine that blends fruit from seven vineyards and seven clones, this bears a family resemblance to the more expensive Balistreri Vineyard bottling in its tart, crisp profile, although there's some dark earth and cola notes layered over the pie cherry fruit.

designation: Balistreri Family Vineyard Freestone View Block

description: The vineyard was closely planted in 1999 to a mix of Dijon clones and cropped at one ton per acre. The result in 2004 is a bright, tightly focused wine, filled with red berry fruit and cedary notes from its 20 months in barrel. Drink 2009C2015.

designation: Old Bush Vine Grenache-Mataro-Shiraz GMS

description: A bargain by Barossa pricing standards or any standards for that matter Schild Estate's 2006 GMS combines a slightly herbal note with full-on black cherry flavors, enhanced by hints of licorice and plum. Ample and round, this blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Mataro and 20% Shiraz offers attractive early drinking.

designation: Reserva

description: Plump and ripe in style, with a lot of charm to its personality. This is very nice and simple Tempranillo (with 15% Garnacha and Graciano), and it's ready to drink now. The feel is on the flush side, and there's jamminess to the palate along with light pickle notes and vanilla on the finish. Coming along nicely; this review reflects an improvement over a tasting done in May 2007.