TN: 2001 Outback Chase Shiraz

[Adair]

Appearance: Deep red with bright cherry tinges.
Nose: Excellent intensity. Good depth. Ripe red fruits. Toast, vanilla and gluten from oak of similar prominent proportion of the fruit. Some darker fruit and aromatics as well. A nose of interest.
Palate: Medium bodied. Smooth and flows freely over the palate. The front is dominated by quite prominent sweet oak combining with the ripe fruit to create a sweet blueberry (taken from Murray but agree fully) sensation. Restrained well by its structure of light tannin. Toasty oak on the middle. There is also a certain woodchip-ness on the middle palate that, with the toastiness as well, is overtaken and shorted more and more as time in the glass increases by a sweet caramel aftertaste that creates good length. Within the numerous layers of sweet fruit and oak, there are ribbons of sweet spices, touches of ash and a hit of earthiness. No noticeable residual sugar (Thank you) despite the reoccurrence of the word "sweet" in this tasting note - just ripe, not overripe fruit and good, dare I say clever, oak use for this style. Leaves you wanting another glass. Nothing offensive but many facets to enjoy, especially the price. This is a good $18 wine at $9 per bottle. I am happy I bought a case and have no hesitation in recommending this wine to those that can't afford to drink 2001 Howard Park Cabernet every day. Rated Recommended.

[Gavin Trott]

Appearance: Deep red with bright cherry tinges.
Nose: Excellent intensity. Good depth. Ripe red fruits. Toast, vanilla and gluten from oak of similar prominent proportion of the fruit. Some darker fruit and aromatics as well. A nose of interest.
Palate: Medium bodied. Smooth and flows freely over the palate. The front is dominated by quite prominent sweet oak combining with the ripe fruit to create a sweet blueberry (taken from Murray but agree fully) sensation. Restrained well by its structure of light tannin. Toasty oak on the middle. There is also a certain woodchip-ness on the middle palate that, with the toastiness as well, is overtaken and shorted more and more as time in the glass increases by a sweet caramel aftertaste that creates good length. Within the numerous layers of sweet fruit and oak, there are ribbons of sweet spices, touches of ash and a hit of earthiness. No noticeable residual sugar (Thank you) despite the reoccurrence of the word "sweet" in this tasting note - just ripe, not overripe fruit and good, dare I say clever, oak use for this style. Leaves you wanting another glass. Nothing offensive but many facets to enjoy, especially the price. This is a good $18 wine at $9 per bottle. I am happy I bought a case and have no hesitation in recommending this wine to those that can't afford to drink 2001 Howard Park Cabernet every day. Rated Recommended.

Adair

Good tasting note, and I agree, drinks well over its $ value, very very well made commercial wine at a great price point.