2001 Ares

The 2001 Shiraz Ares (100% Barossa Valley Shiraz) was previewed last year from barrel, and is even better from bottle. Its stunning nose of subtle new oak interwoven with blackberry liqueur and acacia flowers is followed by a full-bodied, rich, concentrated Shiraz with tremendous power, symmetry, and a deep, thick, long finish. Despite its large size, it is an elegant, tremendously rich, long beauty with at least 10-15 years of aging ahead of it. Importers: Elliot Bay Distributing, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 850-5059, and Ronnie Sanders, Vine St. Imports, Philadelphia, PA; tel. (215) 473-9463