Pair of South Australian Shiraz's 2004

Tasted BYOB with Danny A, Lt Col Joe S and Clint B at Angelis Italian Restaurant in Naperville. Great complements to their Portabello Mushroom ravioli entree.

Pott's Family Bleasdale Langhorne Creek Reserve Shiraz 2004 

From the Langhorne Creek appellation in South Australia, Bleasdaleas vineyards were founded in 1850 by Frank Potts, making Bleasdale one of Australia's oldest family-owned wineries. Having just celebrated its 150th anniversary, it is the second oldest continuously operated family-owned winery besides Yalumba located in the Barossa Valley. Potts was one of South Australia's original settlers having landed in Adelaide on the HMS Buffalo in 1836.

Medium bodied, fairly uninspiring lacking the full forward fruits, spice or body of so many Australian shiraz from the area, this exhibits black cherry and slightly tart cherrry fruits with a layer of creotsote/tar and hint of oak with firm tannins on the short finish. 

RM 87,  Robert Parker, Jr. 88 pts - Wine Advocate #168

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=311592

Jim Barry "The McRae Wood" Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley, South Australia, Shiraz 2004

Medium bodied with subdued fruits, McRae Wood exhibited similar black cherry and black berry fruits but exhibited a layer of graphite and bacon that detracted from the fruit. Like the Bleasdale, also showed modest tannins on a moderate finish.

RM 87 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=390097

Shiraz flight - Jim Barry "The McRae Wood" Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley, South Australia, Shiraz 2004 & Hage Family Vineyards Troll Creek Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002

Shiraz flight - Jim Barry "The McRae Wood" Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley, South Australia, Shiraz 2004 & Hage Family Vineyards Troll Creek Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002

Mini flight of two South Australian Shiraz' - both are dark purple colored, full bodied, rich and concentrated - the Troll Creek was forward extracted dark berry and ripe plum fruits with a layer of mineral, hints of smoke and tar on a full long tannin finish.

The McRae Wood exhibited similar black cherry and black berry fruits but exhibited a layer of graphite and bacon that detracted from the fruit. Both had moderate, nicely integrated tannins on a lingering finish.

Tasted at home with L over beef tenderloin dinner. 





Troll Creek - RM 88 points. RP 93 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=461107

McRae Wood - RM 87 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=390097