Langmeil Shiraz Valley Floor 2002

Possessing density, richness, and Australian character is the 2002 Shiraz Valley Floor. Made from 35- to 120-year-old, largely dry farmed vineyards and aged 12 months in primarily old American oak, this unfined/unfiltered Shiraz displays a dense ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of creosote, blackberries, and currants. Although not complex, it is a chewy, full-throttle, chunky, fleshy, mouthfilling effort to enjoy over the next 3ndash;4 years.

Bright in flavor, round in texture, a vibrant wine with plenty of plum, blackberry and subtle spice flavors, echoing nicely on the juicy finish. Drink now through 2007.

Ripe and broad, with spicy, slightly gamy black cherry and plum flavors that echo beautifully on the rich finish. Not as gooey as some Barossa Shirazes, but nicely done. Drink now through 2008.

Supple, ripe and polished, playing out its peppery black cherry and licorice flavors over fine-grained tannins that let the finish go on and on. Tempting now, but give it time. Best from 2006 through 2015.

A fabulously dark and saturated Shiraz from the Barossa Valley, with all its mass, it remains totally drinkable, with a soft and supple texture and plenty of plush blackberry flavors. Black licorice and new oak around out the finish.

The 1999 Shiraz is a very good buy in Australian Shiraz, offering a big, peppery, tar, blackberry nose, sweet, ripe, straightforward, fruity flavors, low acidity, and a plump, fleshy finish. Its whopping 16.3% alcohol is surprisingly well-concealed beneath the wine's ripe fruit. This is not an ager, but rather one to drink over the next 2-3 years.

Bright ruby-red. Musky aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, game, leather and gunflint. Complex and wild, with intense, varietally accurate flavors of dark berries, pepper, truffle, game and herbs. The numerous disparate parcels that go into the wine have brought an especially wide range of aromas and flavors. Finishes with sweet tannins.