The 1996 Shiraz Graveyard Vineyard, a well-known vineyard in the Hunter Valley whose vines average 28 years of age, is spectacular. When I put my nose in the glass of this wine, three wines came to mind - the famed Chateauneuf du Pape, Rayas, the renowned Pomerol micro-estate of Lafleur, and the grand cru Burgundy, Musigny. Incredible scents of black raspberry liqueur intermixed with flowers, kirsch, and spice soar from the glass of this profound, concentrated, multidimensional effort. Amazingly, the wine has been aged in American oak, but reveals none of the aggressive whiskey barrel scents that American oak sometimes imparts. The Graveyard Vineyard is multidimensional and complex, with extraordinary concentration, and an ethereal sense of richness and length. The finish lasts for nearly 50 seconds. This fabulously suave, yet remarkably concentrated and well-delineated wine is a wine making tour de force as well as one of the most exceptional old vine Shiraz I have tasted from Australia. Anticipated maturity: now-2015. Imported by The Australian Premium Wine Collection, John Larchet, USA Wine West LLC, San Rafael, CA; tel. (800)-485-5753 and Chicago Brands, Chicago, IL; tel. (312) 466-9300.