Piping Shrike Shiraz Barossa Valley 2004

Has surprising complexity along with fruit. Would like to see this one in a screw-top bottle. Plum fragrance dominates with tar and vegetal undertones. Mild tannis appear to be fully integrated. Although flavor does improve with a little air time, it is ready to drink now (stored at steady room temperature). Added on 10/26: Have had some of this almost every day for a week now. The wine entered a dumb phase on day 3 and 4 so I figured it just wasn't going to go anywhere; however, I was away for 2 days and finished the bottle today and in the 8 days since it's initial pour it has come full circle. It is quite lovely again today with plum, black cherry and cassis on the nose and a nice flavor with a slight bordeaux quality of tobacco leaf mixed in with the fruit. Score stays at 88 though as I consider that "excellent" according to CT scale. [88]

Has surprising complexity along with fruit. Would like to see this one in a screw-top bottle. Plum fragrance dominates with tar and vegetal undertones. Mild tannis appear to be fully integrated. Although flavor does improve with a little air time, it is ready to drink now (stored at steady room temperature). Added on 10/26: Have had some of this almost every day for a week now. The wine entered a dumb phase on day 3 and 4 so I figured it just wasn't going to go anywhere; however, I was away for 2 days and finished the bottle today and in the 8 days since it's initial pour it has come full circle. It is quite lovely again today with plum, black cherry and cassis on the nose and a nice flavor with a slight bordeaux quality of tobacco leaf mixed in with the fruit. Score stays at 88 though as I consider that ""excellent"" according to CT scale.