2002 Yarra Valley Shiraz Viognier Reserve

(includes 5% viognier) Full ruby. Explosively perfumed nose combines blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry and sexy oak spices. Lush and sweet on the palate, with dark berry flavors showing impressive purity and focus, and a hint of licorice giving bite to the back end. Finishes with soft, gentle tannins. A delicious wine that's all about fruit.

Very deep crimson with a smudgy rim. Briary, monolithic, as though it hasn’t changed in years on the nose. Back to sweet and tarry style, though well done. The acid and tannin is well integrated. Dry finish. Well done. Is this a Glaetzer wine? Fresh and appetising rather than heavy and exaggerated. Later: This could hardly be more different from Hermitage La Chapelle in style though pretty close in quality. (They have apparently decided to halve the Viognier component for 2003. Some tasters found it too pronounced.) (JR)

Very bright ruby-red. Complex aromas of black raspberry, pepper, mint and woodsmoke lifted by a floral element. Impressively rich, deep and seamless, with ripe but classically dry flavors of raspberry, mocha, pepper and mint. A dense, sappy wine with a cool climate character. Complex, slow-mounting finish shows spicy oak and impressive persistence.