Winemaker's Notes:

The aroma lifts with an intoxicatingly glossy mix of black cherry, blood plum, licorice, and medium-dark chocolate. The palate has that perfect balance with richness of super-ripe fruit with fine tannin. As usual this "Kester" displays a profusion of seamless, complex, powerful spicy Shiraz flavours throughout, running to the trademark velvety length and fine plush French oak.

This winemaking incorporates technique similar to that of the Rhone Valley for added complexity and flavour length. This shiraz is sourced from old dryfarmed vineyards, and then fermented with a trace of Viognier in open vats for several weeks, with plunging by hand. It is matured for 20 months in fine French oak barriques.

Reviews:

“ 5 stars, Rating 94
Great weight and complexity, a layered texture, with earth and spice nuances to the core of black fruits, persistent fine tannins, and positive oak contributions. ” — James Halliday, Wine Companion 2009

“ 5 Stars. ” — Huon Hooke, Gourmet Traveller Wine Jan 2009

“ 5 Stars.
Keith Tulloch makes wines of immaculate quality and that is evidenced in this 2005 flagship red... lovely, velvet-smooth plum flavour glides onto the front of the palate, licorice and clove elements combine seamlessly with savoury oak on the middle palate. Lingering plum flavour and dusty tannins marry at the finish. ” — John Lewis, The Herald Feb 2009

“ 90 Points. ” — Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate Feb 2009