3 | Wine | South Africa, Unrated, 2007

"A broody nose of cocoa, dark chocolate and dark berries all cloaked in vanillary new oak that is very well enmeshed. The palate is medium-bodied with a very silky smooth entry: seamless tannins that are almost Burgundian in nature. It is still closed at the moment, but here, the new oak is very well integrated and absorbed into the precocious, sappy dark cherry, blueberry and cassis fruit."

"Dark, bright red. Aromatic nose combines blackberry, white pepper and mocha, along with a chocolatey richness. Silky and sweet on the palate, but with good energy to the slightly medicinal mulberry and chocolate flavors. Not a gamey style of shiraz. Suave tannins and harmonious acids give this a solid structure."