Petit Verdot can rarely stand on its own, but Craneford’s 2002 is an inky/blue/purple-colored offering displaying notes of incense, liquid minerals, black fruits, and damp earth. Dense, chewy, and enormous in the mouth, the question is, will the fruit hold and the tannin ultimately subside, or will the tannin take over? For now, I am optimistic as this stunning wine looks to be one of the finest Petit Verdots I have ever tasted. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2015. Run by Don Zilm, this impressive winery fashions textbook Barossa cuvees, meaning power, thickness, intensity as well as surprising balance. Most importantly, prices are shockingly low for such quality.Importer: Ken Onish & John Gorman, Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030