Deep garnet colored, the 2007 Grand Barossa Shiraz is composed of 95% Shiraz and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. Blackberry cordial and kirsch scented with underlying notes of marmite and dark roasted coffee beans, this full-bodied style has plenty of juicy fruit in the mouth supported by a medium-firm level of very fine tannins and crisp acid. There's a bit of cedar and vanilla standing out in the long finish. Drink this one now to 2014. Importer: Banfi Vintners, Old Brookville, NY; www.banfivintners.com

Firm in texture, with ripe blackberry and licorice flavors on a broad frame, picking up a smoky note on the finish. Drink now through 2013. 3,000 cases made, 3,000 cases imported.??–HS??Region: Australia / Barossa Select to Add

With this wine’s lifted aromas and candied fruit, it’s frankly a bit confectionary. Chocolate-covered cherries define the palate, while the tannins are creamy-soft and the finish slightly warming. All that said, it’s cleanly made, and fits the bill as an easy-drinking cocktail red.——J.C.(9/1/2010)—— 86