1998 Fox Creek Shiraz/Cabernet Franc JSM

Even the most forward effort, the 1998 JSM (a blend of 68% Shiraz, 20% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon), possesses a dense ruby/purple color to the rim in addition to a sweet nose of menthol, creme de cassis, licorice, smoke, and earth. It is a dense, medium to full-bodied, elegant, pure wine that should hold for another 4-5 years. All of these wines were made by one of the wine bloggers’ favorite whipping boys, Sarah and Sparky Marquis, who have since moved on to their own projects. I rated these Australian reds highly when they were first released, and lo and behold, they are still spectacular wines that are aging beautifully. They admirably demonstrate that the Marquis team knows a great deal about what they are doing.