1996 Turkey Flat Shiraz

[Red Bigot]

I hadn't tried one of these for 2 years.

Colour: Deep intense impenetrable red-purple still, could have picked it as a 98, better colour than a lot of 2000 reds I've seen.

Nose: Sweet raspberries and ripe plums, very intense, if not overly complex, oak just there if you have a good imagination.

Palate: Initial impression is very ripe and sweet, with luscious raspberries and almost overripe plums, overpoweringly rich and concentrated. Over a couple of hours and the next night it developed a bit more complexity and the structure showed up behind the fruit, soft tannins, no appreciable oak impact showing, hints of prunes and tending to portiness the next night, but still very enjoyable. Long finish with sufficient clean acid, will mature for 3-5 years yet.

A real red bigot red, the second half tonight even stood to a fiery thai-style chicken-coconut milk hot pot, as can be expected from the sweet fruit, nicely controlled tannins and understated oak.

[TORB]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the TN. I had pulled one out of the cellar to try but now I can put it back for a couple of years.