The 2018 The Aberfeldy Shiraz is not for the faint hearted: maturation for 24 months in new American oak sets the scene for this wine, but perhaps even more telling might be the glorious 2018 vintage from which the fruit has sprung. It serves to cushion the oak and provide a bedrock of ripe, purple, spicy flavors upon which the tannins can swirl. The finish is a little warm (no surprise at just shy of 15% alcohol), but everything remains in balance. A vintage like this one will always attract the lovers of ripe, supple, chewy reds. Like this one is.

One of the top Shirazes I tasted on this trip, Tim Adams's 2015 The Aberfeldy Shiraz is a rushing swirl of plush, creamy flavor intensity. Vanilla, blackberries and dried spices all come together on the nose and full-bodied palate, framed by ripe tannins and a long, long finish. This is seriously good stuff.

Named after the vineyard planted in 1904 and aged in new American oak hogsheads for 24 months, the 2008 The Aberfeldy reveals a very deep garnet purple color and pronounced aromas of eucalypt and blackberry preserves over cedar and vanilla, coffee beans and a whiff of loam. Concentrated, full-bodied with medium to firm very fine tannins, high acidity and a long minty finish, it just needs a bit of time for the oak to integrate. Drink it 2013 to 2020. No known USA importer.

(South Australia) Cool mint, perfume, white pepper, tobacco, spice, black fruit and oak bouquet. Expressive and sleek with buckets of juicy fruit, a layered complexity, oak spice and floral notes intermingling seamlessly. A graceful, exciting wine. Drink: 2011%u20132018. Alc: 14.5%.