The 2008 Shotfire Shiraz was aged for 14-16 months in 40% new French and American oak hogsheads. Purple-colored, it offers up a nose of toasty oak, Asian spices, incense, blueberry, and blackberry. On the palate it has excellent flavors in a plush, nearly opulent style. The wine is balanced, rich, fleshy, and ripe. Drink this full-flavored effort over the next 6-8 years. Thorn-Clarke is a fine source for values from Australia. There are three levels of wine, the Milton Park series lined priced at $13, the Terra Barossa series line priced at $15, and the Shotfire series line priced at $24. Typically they can be found discounted at hard to resist prices.Importer: Kysela Pere & Fils, Winchester, VA; tel. (540) 722-9228

This medium- to full-bodied Shiraz features a welcoming mix of mulberries and vanilla, overtaken by cedary flavors on the finish, where the fruit turns crisp. A slab of charred steak would match the woody notes nicely. Drink now–2013.——J.C.(2/1/2011)—— 88