2001 Cape d'Estaing Shiraz

From six-year old vines cropped at a mere 2.3 tons of fruit per acre, the brilliant 2001 Shiraz is a candidate for the finest wine ever made on Kangaroo Island. It boasts an opaque purple color in addition to a complex perfume of blackberry liqueur intermixed with licorice, smoke, charcoal, and a hint of wood. Full-bodied as well as remarkably measured, elegant, and restrained for its power and mass, this brilliant achievement somehow walks the tightrope between excessive power and overly processed politeness. It combines intense flavor with tremendous finesse – an extremely difficult accomplishment. The good news continues as there are 2,500 cases of this brilliant Shiraz. It should drink well young yet evolve for 15+ years. Having been to the magical Kangaroo Island off the coast of Adelaide and spending nearly three days immersed in this wildlife paradise, seemingly over-run with koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and enormous seal colonies, it is somewhat unexpected to find such impressive wines from this windswept, stark island. Both 1999 and 2000 were challenging vintages for Cape d’Estaing, but they have hit the proverbial home run in 2001. Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (888) 472-5283