2005 Toolangi Estate Shiraz

A medium red in colour that is just starting to show it's age around the rim, the nose requires a double take, and keeps changing in the glass, it is initially a little reductive, after which some wonderful french oak characters come through, combining with elegant peppery blackberry fruit and cinnamon.

The palate is medium bodied, but decisively elegant with a seamless transition of flavours across the palate that leads to a long and complex finish.

On entry sweet fruited blackberry and plum frame the palate, from which cedary oak inputs add structure and subtle dark chocolate characters flourish. The finish has an abundance of white pepper, dark fruits and wonderfully fine tannins.

This is a wine that is lauded by some and critically acclaimed by others, i think i know which camp I'm in.