Only one barrel was made of the purple/black 2004 The Ox. Sourced from a miniscule yield of 0.5 tons of fruit per acre, this brooding behemoth offers a superb bouquet of mineral/earth notes, pepper, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. Loaded on the palate, it is intensely flavored, has great depth and grip, and a 60-second finish. Remarkably, it can be enjoyed now but will still be providing pleasure 15-20 years from now. Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030

Rich, ripe and generous, spicy with pepper and licorice overtones to the dark berry and dried cherry flavors. Finishes with flair. Drink now through 2016. 275 cases made, 40 cases imported.??–HS??Region: Australia / McLaren Vale Select to Add

The Hardy family history of grape growing goes back several generations in McLaren Vale, and this wine is sourced from vines said to be planted in 1891. It’s full bodied and lush in texture, with aromas and flavors that suggest chocolate, mint, marinated beef and brandied fruit. It shows a bit of alcohol, so drink it over the near term.——J.C.(11/1/2011)—— 93