Kaesler, Old Bastard Shiraz

Kaesler, Old Bastard ShirazThis holds a reductive edge with meaty and toasty spice aromas, as well as dark stones and black fruit. The palate has such smooth, fine and consistent tannins with a long, supple and succulent run of ripe blackberry and dark plum flavors holding fresh. This needs a good decanting to open up and really changes in the glass. Drink or hold.

when the wines have aged very well

zest and white orchard fruit aromas give way to succulent

I love the aromatic palate that unfolds in this wine

which flirts with perfection

Piercing acidity runs through it to a very long

soon giving way to very pretty scents of tilled soil

(65% whole cluster)

with good volume but only modest nuance

that underlying stony minerality and a huge finish

There is a nose of floral-based reduction which is what the French call “bourgeon de cassis”

This too is very good

revealing savory flavors of spice