91 2004 Mitolo Jester Shiraz McLaren Vale 7/14/07 ($17)
14. 5% alc
Color: Deep garnet. Can barely see through. (3.5) Bouquet: Blackberry jam, some sweet cassis and spicy cedar, uplifted by excellent acidity with some herbal and tar nuances thrown in. (3.5) Body: Concentrated fruit that coats the mouth, balanced by tart acidity and smooth tannins. A light heavyweight with slightly sharp acidity. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but not quite as harmonious or giving. Still delicious. (3.0) Finish: Long and rich, but shows more sharp acidity and a little heat. (2.5)
Overall: Rich, delicious Aussie Shiraz with concentrated fruit that is not overdone (i.e., kept balanced by tart acidity), over-extracted or over-oaked. Shows some elegance and nuance, but the slightly sharp acidity warrants serving it on the cool side (say 65 ?F). Could smooth out a bit with 2+ years of bottle age, but doubt it will improve, so why not drink it now while all that delicious fruit is intact. Great value! (15.5)