2002 Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz The Signature

($45) Inky ruby. Dense, powerful nose offers redcurrant liqueur, cherry preserves, licorice, tobacco, saddle leather and dried rose. Sweet, supple and silky, with red and dark berry flavors expanding to saturate the palate. The combination of concentrated sweetness and precision here is really impressive. A serious, complex, deep red blend with excellent potential for cellaring.

Author: Josh Raynolds

Issue: July/August 2006

Bright and generous, a lively mouthful of red berry, cherry and black pepper that gets meaty and rich as the finish sails on and on. Tannins are well-integrated. Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

Author: Harvey Steiman

The 2002 The Signature (56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Shiraz) was given the same upbringing as its young sibling, but 2002 is a better vintage for Yalumba. The 2002 exhibits smoky, blackberry, incense, charcoal, and floral characteristics along with tremendous glycerin, richness, purity, and teeth-staining levels of extract. Remarkably, there are no hard edges, and the acidity, tannin, and alcohol are beautifully integrated.

Author: Robert Parker