The 2005 The Ox Shiraz was sourced from estate vines planted in 1891. The wine was aged in seasoned French barriques for 24 months before bottling without fining or filtration. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it displays a captivating perfume of pencil lead, tar, licorice, smoked meat, blackberry and blueberry. Remarkably elegant and harmonious on the palate, it has tons of spicy black and blue fruit, Asian spices, and meaty notes. Dense, complex, and exceptionally long, this is a benchmark wine of the vintage.Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030

This voluptuous, fleshy Shiraz seamlessly blends superripe berries with vanilla, coffee and cocoa notes. It’s full-bodied, with a creamy texture that persists through the lengthy finish. Between the touch of warmth and ultrasoft tannins, smart consumers will want to drink this over the near term—now through 2015.——J.C.(2/1/2010)—— 91