2002 Descendant

(shiraz with 8% viognier) Roasted black cherry syrup on the nose, along with an exotic hint of apricot from the viognier. Sappy and fruit-driven, with liqueur-like fla vors of black cherry and black raspberry. Densely packed and sweet. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins that turned a bit dry with aeration.

There are 1,000 cases of the 2002 Descendant, a blend of 92% Shiraz and 8% Viognier that spent 18 months in 2-year-old French oak. The fruit is sourced from the section of the Barossa Valley known as Marananga. The Viognier and Shiraz are co-fermented together, and the name, Descendant, comes the fact that it is essentially the same blend as the famed Run Rig, but sees no new oak. A magnificent effort, the dense ruby/purple-colored 2002 Descendant offers gorgeous aromas of crushed blackberries, raspberries, licorice, acacia flowers, and the added notes of honeysuckle and apricots from the Viognier. Full-bodied and opulently textured, with good tannin, structure, purity, and a broad, expansive finish that lasts nearly a minute, it needs 1-2 years of cellaring, and should keep for 12-15+. Oct 2004, www.robertparker.com