Henry's Drive Reserve Shiraz 2002 (Padthaway, Australia)

Nose here is now nicely integrated - meaty, toasted oak, Andes Mint. Previously (1-2 years ago) this had the aromatic clarity of a campfire in a pine forest. No overt sense of the 16% alcohol on the nose.

Alcohol still peeks out at the edges in the mouth, but huge, sweet, mouth-filling flavor lingers. I don't get any meaningful complexity, though, no reason to keep coming back.

I must admit that I want to like this wine, as there is much to admire. But ultimately it is something of a freak show, someone bound to get hurt.



$50 approx.