Wine Front: Shallow grey loam planted 1999. Got a bit of lift and also a floral edge, marzipan, dark fruit and dark chocolate. Chewy dry tannin, ferrous, rough and rugged - though a littl...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Opaque ruby. Intense, mineral-accented aromas of cherry-cola, minerals, cracked pepper and anise. Smoky and penetrating on the palate, offering vibrant dark berry and bitter...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The big, concentrated yet velvety-textured, magnificent 2003 Shiraz reveals a seamless integration of tannin, acidity, wood, and alcohol, it boasts aromas of blackberry liqueu...

Wine Spectator: Very round and fresh, with delicious crushed fig, plum sauce and graphite flavors laced with spice and sweet earth notes. The long, incense- and toast-filled finish has lovely...

Wine Spectator: Straddling the line between road tar, spice and dried berry fruit, this is an intense, tight and concentrated red, full-bodied and dense. A young, compact wine that has a firm...

Wine Spectator: Rich and dense, but velvety and nicely detailed, with sleek-edged cassis, blackberry and plum fruit woven with white pepper, mulled spice and dark olive notes. A strong, tangy...

Wine Spectator: This is a delicious Syrah, pure, rich, intense and concentrated, with a wonderful core of zesty black cherry, blackberry, wild berry and pretty fresh earth scents. Just when y...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Bright violet. Expansive bouquet shows boysenberry and blueberry liqueur, Moroccan spices, violet and woodsmoke. Lush, seductively sweet black and blue fruit flavors stain t...

Wine Spectator: Polished and round, delivering a dense mouthful of cherry, dried blueberry, white pepper and tar flavors that pick up a thin layer of gritty tannins as the finish sails on e...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Lurid purple. Boysenberry, blueberry, Asian spices and a hint of sandalwood on the flamboyant nose. Intensely flavored and rich, with lush dark berry preserve and fruitcake ...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Glass-staining ruby. Pungent, spice-accented aromas of red fruit compote, cherry pit and fresh flowers. Juicy and sharply focused, offering gently sweet black raspberry and ...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: More flint, barbecue smoke, crushed rock, spring flower, blueberry and black raspberry characteristics are present in the full-bodied 2011 St.-Joseph Les Granits. Uncommonly f...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The dense purple-colored 2011 Crozes-Hermitage Les Varonnieres offers notes of black olives, tapenade, gun flint, smoky barbecue, charcuterie and red meats. Full-bodied, soft ...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Opaque ruby. Smoky, mineral-driven aromas of black raspberry, cherry-cola, cured meat and violets, plus a strong spicecake overtone. Intense red berry flavors are lifted by ...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The prodigious 200-case lot of 1999 Shiraz Creek Block (made from 63-year old vines) is aged in new and old French oak. The aromas of creme de cassis, new saddle leather, vani...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Opaque ruby. Dark berries and cherry-cola on the pungent, floral-accented nose and in the mouth. Shows very good depth and firm structure, picking up spiciness with air. Ch...

Wine Spectator: Crisp in texture, with peppery flavors and crunchy tannins around a core of dark berry and licorice flavors. Finishes with intensity. Best after 2015. -H.S.

Wine Front: This 2007 St Henri Shiraz is made using grapes grown in so many different wine regions that there are almost too many to mention, but (deep breath) here goes: Robe, McLaren Va...