1998 Greenock Creek Shiraz. Creek Block, Seppeltsfield Vineyard, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia. 14.3% alcohol. $250. 100 cases made.
Translucent deep blood red color with very thick almost clear legs. Initially the bouquet shows aromas of sweetened bell pepper and balsamic vinegar. After about 30 minutes these early scents blow off to reveal strong but reasonably controlled warm chocolate, sweet plum, some earth, soy sauce, “beef chow mein”, “Chex mix”, and hung wild game characteristics. Its tough to get a fix on the aromatics because they keep changing in the glass – at some times the wine even presented like a ripe Pomerol. Beautifully balanced with prodigious amounts of fruit allayed with sufficient acidity and integrating tannin. Very, very long with plenty of sweet fruit hanging on to the end. The Creek Block is dry farmed and the vines were over 60 years in age when the 98 was produced. The wine was aged in American and French oak for 28 months and then put into glass without filtration. Chris Ringland consults for this winery. Of note, a quarter bottle left open lasted without deterioration for one week. Drink now to 2013. 94+ points.