Made with fruit coming from 3.5 acres of 100-year-old vines, the deep garnet-purple colored 2005 Shiraz is a 17.6% alcohol wine that spends more than 40 months in oak. The nose flaunts beautiful notes of black fruit preserves, sandalwood, mocha and dark chocolate allied with licorice, earth, toast and a subtle nuttiness. Very big, rich and concentrated, the full-bodied palate is framed by medium to firm, very fine tannins and a vibrant line of acid that gives nice lift at the end. This gorgeous wine shows a very, very long finish. Only 1,650 bottles and 50 magnums were produced. (2/2014)

I need to stress the points for this wine could be much higher or much lower, for it really defies conventional assessment. Thus, it tasted better 24 hours after it was first opened and tasted. I could never envisage drinking it without a mammoth char-grilled steak. Key descriptors are prune, licorice and dark chocolate; it is the quintessence of the Ringland style, and the mouthfeel is unctuously rich and warm. (7/2013)