Mr. Riggs Shiraz 2010

The 10th release of this label, the fruit for the 2010 from ‘Penny's Hill', ‘Piebald Gully', ‘Edgehill' and ‘Braden's', fermentation finished in oak. 80% of the oak was French and 20% American. 40% of the barrels were new. 14.5% alc. Very full, saturated purple-black colour. The bouquet is full and voluminous, packed with aromas of fully-ripened black fruits, plums, liquorice and eucalypt with oak spices, all harmoniously interwoven and without any excess. Full-bodied, this is extremely rich and mouthfilling, with multi-layered flavours of rich, fully-ripened black berry and plum fruits, unfolding waves of liquorice and spices, dark chocolate and eucalypt, with oak spice and cedar emerging. Matching the fruit decadence is significant extraction, the tannins very fine-grained, building in texture through the palate line. Good acidity enhances the fruit sweetness providing lift and vibrancy, and the wine carries a very long, sweet-fruited and fully nuanced finish. This is a hedonistic multi-faceted Shiraz with beautifully rich fruit and wonderful textural balance to see 12-15+ years effortless aging. Match with slow-cooked game meat. 732 6-packs made. 19.5+/20 Raymond Chan