Medium to deep garnet-purple-colored, the 2009 Kester Shiraz has a savory, earthy character with notes of salami, damp earth, game, truffles and black olives over a core of warm plums and black cherry preserves. Medium-bodied, it offers an elegantly fruited palate with a medium level of velvety tannins and refreshing acidity, finishing long. Drink it now to 2018+. Keith Tulloch does not currently have a USA importer.

The Kester Shiraz comes off a single block of vines planted in the 1930s (though not owned by Keith Tulloch). It is co-fermented with 1-2% Viognier, spending around 4 weeks on its skins before pressing. The 2007 The Kester Shiraz Viognier has a very deep garnet-purple color and fragrant warm black cherry and blackberry aromas with hints of cassis, spice box, white pepper and mocha. Full-bodied with very crisp acid to give lift, it has a medium-firm level of very finely grained tannins and a long finish with some earthiness coming through. Approachable now, it should develop nicely and drink through 2018+. Keith Tulloch’s family came to Australia from Scotland in 1850. They started producing wine in the Hunter Valley in 1896. In 1997 Keith Tulloch branched off from the Tulloch winery to form his own wholly separate operation and label. Opinionated, outspoken, dogmatic: all the greatest winemakers seem to possess these attributes. Keith Tulloch is certainly not lacking in things to say, possessing admiral vision and strong views that are convincingly backed-up by the high quality results he has been getting in recent years. This is a winery to watch.Importer: The Wine Angel; www.Wine-Angel.com