Deep garnet-purple colored, 2008 Alliance Shiraz gives reduced tar and burnt rubber notes to begin then opens out to aromas of warm blackberries and plums over licorice with a whiff of cinnamon stick. Full bodied with a good amount of juicy fruit, it has a medium level of rounded tannins, refreshing acidity and a medium-long finish. Drink it now to 2014. Importer: CLD Imports, Barrington, IL; tel. (847) 898-9500